Purs Lake
Jefferson County, AlabamaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #1 of 2 in the county
- 36 ft max depth
Purs Lake in Jefferson County, Alabama has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.9 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.6 ft
- Max depth
- ~36 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 26.1 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 13.9 µg/L
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Purs Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Purs Lake in Jefferson County, Alabama — 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 Purs Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Purs Lake
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Watch Purs Lake’s letter
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Purs Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Jefferson County, Alabama with an estimated average depth of about 36 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Jefferson County, Purs Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEM, last sampled 2023-10-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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. Purs Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Phosphorus 26.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 13.9 µg/L. TSI 55. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 26.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.9 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~36 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~36 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Alabama has not published bathymetry for Purs 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.
Fishing Purs Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Purs Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit AL03150202-0103-102 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.53 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Jefferson County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Purs Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Jefferson County
Frequently asked questions about Purs Lake
Where is Purs Lake?
- Purs Lake is a lake in Jefferson County, Alabama. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Purs Lake?
- Purs Lake in Jefferson County, Alabama has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.9 µg/L.
Is Purs Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Purs Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Purs Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Purs Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 36 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Explore Purs Lake across LakeQuality
3.1 mi away · cable-pulled, no boat wake
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Alabama's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Alabama's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Alabama Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Alabama
Eutrophic Lakes in Alabama
Where this data comes from
289 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2012–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- ALABAMA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - WATER QUALITY DATA
21AWIC289 samples · 2012–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)