South Fork Holston River Lake
Sullivan County, TennesseeView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- Impaired · Mercury
- Public access
- Limited data
South Fork Holston River Lake in Sullivan County, Tennessee is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 11.9 µg/L.
- Phosphorus
- 11.9 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Why South Fork Holston River Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For South Fork Holston River Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded phosphorus, but not water clarity and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by TDEC and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
South Fork Holston River Lake is a lake in Sullivan County, Tennessee. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TDEC, last sampled 2022-07-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What South Fork Holston River Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Camping1 public campground nearby
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. South Fork Holston River Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for South Fork Holston River Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 11.9 µg/L. TSI 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 11.9 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Recreation & Access
- Emmett BridgePublic
- Friendship MarinaSemi-private
- Painter Creek MarinaSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near South Fork Holston River Lake
- Little Oak Campground4.9 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 South Fork Holston River Lake
EPA Impairment Status
South Fork Holston River 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 TN06010102015_1000 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.68 km)
Graded lakes near South Fork Holston River Lake
South Fork Holston River Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Sullivan County
Frequently asked questions about South Fork Holston River Lake
Where is South Fork Holston River Lake?
- South Fork Holston River Lake is a lake in Sullivan County, Tennessee. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
What is the water quality grade for South Fork Holston River Lake?
- South Fork Holston River Lake in Sullivan County, Tennessee is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 11.9 µg/L.
Is South Fork Holston River Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. South Fork Holston River Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on South Fork Holston River Lake?
- South Fork Holston River Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Emmett Bridge, Friendship Marina, Painter Creek Marina. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on South Fork Holston River Lake?
- South Fork Holston River Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Little Oak 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 South Fork Holston River Lake across LakeQuality
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Oligotrophic Lakes in Tennessee
Where this data comes from
2 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- TDEC Division of Water Resources
TDECWR_WQX2 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles