Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin
Obion County, TennesseeView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↑ up from F at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Nuisance native species
- #1 of 2 in the county
- 33 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin in Obion County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 276 µg/L.
- Max depth
- ~33 ft est.
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 276 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin in Obion 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin are listed below.
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Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Obion County, Tennessee with an estimated average depth of about 33 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Obion County, Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TDEC, last sampled 2026-05-20. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Camping1 public campground nearby
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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. Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nuisance native species, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), sediment / turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 276 µg/L. TSI 85. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 276 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 85 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~33 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~8 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Tennessee has not published bathymetry for Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin.
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
- AirparkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin
- Reelfoot Lake State Park Airpark/North Campground1.2 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
Fishing Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +3.59 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Reelfoot Lake Upper 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
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit TN08010202040_3000 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.36 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Obion County
Nearby Lakes in Obion County
Frequently asked questions about Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin
Where is Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin?
- Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin is a lake in Obion County, Tennessee. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin?
- Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin in Obion County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 276 µg/L.
Is Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nuisance native species, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), sediment / turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 33 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin?
- Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Airpark. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin?
- Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Reelfoot Lake State Park Airpark/North 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.
Explore Reelfoot Lake Upper Blue Basin across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Tennessee's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
42 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2015–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- TDEC Division of Water Resources
TDECWR_WQX42 samples · 2015–2026
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
- 2120 C ~ Color in Water by Spectrophotometry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles