Smoky Valley Lake
Carter County, Kentucky35 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Oxygen depletion (low DO)
- #2 of 2 in the county
- Public access
Smoky Valley Lake in Carter County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Surface area: 35.3 acres.
- Area
- 35 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 30 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Smoky Valley Lake’s letter
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Smoky Valley Lake is a 35-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Carter County, Kentucky. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Carter County, Smoky Valley Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KY DOW, last sampled 2023-09-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Smoky Valley Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Camping2 public campgrounds nearby
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Smoky Valley Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. TSI 53. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Smoky Valley Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Smoky Valley Lake
- Carter Caves State Resort Park Campground1.1 km
- Carter Caves State Resort Park Horse Campground1.6 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 Smoky Valley Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.72 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Smoky Valley Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Smokey Valley Dam (completed 1953), built primarily for recreation on the Smokey Creek; earth-type dam, 37 ft tall and 260 ft long.
- Surface area
- 35.3 ac
- Normal storage
- 366.8 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 845 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 13 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KY00037 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.51 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Smoky Valley Lake 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 KY-1742 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Carter County
Nearby Lakes in Carter County
Frequently asked questions about Smoky Valley Lake
Where is Smoky Valley Lake?
- Smoky Valley Lake is a lake in Carter County, Kentucky. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Smoky Valley Lake?
- Smoky Valley Lake in Carter County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Surface area: 35.3 acres.
Is Smoky Valley Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Smoky Valley Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there campgrounds on Smoky Valley Lake?
- Smoky Valley Lake has 2 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Carter Caves State Resort Park Campground, Carter Caves State Resort Park Horse 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 Smoky Valley Lake across LakeQuality
More Kentucky Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Kentucky
Eutrophic Lakes in Kentucky
Where this data comes from
22 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2012–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- KY WQX
21KY_WQX22 samples · 2012–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles