Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin
Lake County, TennesseeView mapDirections
TDEC publishes the water-quality measurements for Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin. Here is what has been measured.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Hydrologic alteration
- Public access
- Limited data
Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin in Lake County, Tennessee has water-quality measurements published by TDEC, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 242 µg/L.
Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Lake County, Tennessee. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TDEC, last sampled 2021-06-16. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Camping1 public campground nearby
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for hydrologic alteration, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), sediment / turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin is safe to swim in today is a call for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin
These are the measurements TDEC publishes for Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 242 µg/L. TSI 83.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 242µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 83 | Hypereutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Ask about Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Recreation & Access
- Long ParkPublic
- Sunset CourtPublic
- Bo's LandingSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin
- Reelfoot Lake State Park South Campground4.8 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin in Lake County, Tennessee — 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin
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Fishing Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring (2012–2025).
Phosphorus
Improving-9.61 µg/L/yr4 years
EPA Impairment Status
Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit TN08010202040_1000 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin
Where is Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin?
- Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin is a lake in Lake County, Tennessee. Its water-quality measurements are published by TDEC and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin?
- Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin in Lake County, Tennessee has water-quality measurements published by TDEC, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 242 µg/L.
Is Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for hydrologic alteration, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), sediment / turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin?
- Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Long Park, Sunset Court, Bo's Landing. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin?
- Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Tennessee's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Are there campgrounds on Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin?
- Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Reelfoot Lake State Park South Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
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Where this data comes from
7 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- TDEC Division of Water Resources
TDECWR_WQX7 samples · 2012–2021
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles