Possum Kingdom Lake
Stephens County, TexasView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #2 of 3 in the county
- 108 ft max depth
- Public access
Possum Kingdom Lake in Stephens County, Texas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.9 ft
- Max depth
- ~108 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 30 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 14.5 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Possum Kingdom Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Possum Kingdom Lake in Stephens County, Texas — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Possum Kingdom Lake are listed below.
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Possum Kingdom Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Stephens County, Texas with an estimated average depth of about 108 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 21 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Stephens County, Possum Kingdom Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TCEQ, last sampled 2025-11-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Possum Kingdom Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch21 documented ramps
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 14.5 µg/L. TSI 56. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Current Conditions
USGS snapshot Sep 7, 2026, 3:45 PM from gauge 08088440 (Possum Kingdom Lk at Sandy Beach nr Graford, TX). Station page ↗ — a live reading replaces this snapshot when the gauge responds. Missing live data is not an all-clear.
→ Possum Kingdom Lake water level: the live USGS gauge reading
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~108 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~44 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Texas has not published bathymetry for Possum Kingdom Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Possum Kingdom LakePublic
- WestsidePublic
- Lake Shore DrivePublic
- Possum Kingdom State Park - LakeviewPublic
- Possum Kingdom Lake PublicPublic
- Recreation Area #4 NorthPublic
Showing 6 of 21 documented landings from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory.
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Possum Kingdom Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.061 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.47 µg/L/yr | 5 |
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Stephens County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Possum Kingdom Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Stephens County
Frequently asked questions about Possum Kingdom Lake
Where is Possum Kingdom Lake?
- Possum Kingdom Lake is a lake in Stephens County, Texas. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Possum Kingdom Lake?
- Possum Kingdom Lake in Stephens County, Texas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.5 µg/L.
Is Possum Kingdom Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Possum Kingdom Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Possum Kingdom Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 108 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
What is the water level at Possum Kingdom Lake?
- The USGS snapshot on this page for Possum Kingdom Lake is 994.99 ft of water-surface elevation, recorded Sep 7, 2026, 3:45 PM at gauge 08088440. Current Conditions hydrates a live NWIS reading from that same station when the gauge responds. A missed live fetch is not an all-clear.
Are there boat ramps on Possum Kingdom Lake?
- Possum Kingdom Lake has 21 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Possum Kingdom Lake, Westside, Lake Shore Drive, Possum Kingdom State Park - Lakeview, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Possum Kingdom Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Texas's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Texas's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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Other Grade D Lakes in Texas
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Where this data comes from
236 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
TCEQMAIN236 samples · 2020–2025
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory