South Fork Holston River Lake
Sullivan County, TennesseeView mapDirections
TDEC publishes the water-quality measurements for South Fork Holston River Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Impaired · Mercury
- Public access
- Limited data
South Fork Holston River Lake in Sullivan County, Tennessee has water-quality measurements published by TDEC, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 11.9 µg/L.
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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
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 conditions
No readingRecreation use not supported
Nutrient and algae readings are 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.
Whether South Fork Holston River Lake 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 South Fork Holston River Lake
These are the measurements TDEC publishes for South Fork Holston River Lake, 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 11.9 µg/L. TSI 40.
| 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 | 11.9µg/L | Measured, not scored The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. |
| 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. | 40 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about South Fork Holston River Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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
Stays via Stay22
Stays near South Fork Holston River Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near South Fork Holston River Lake in Sullivan 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.
Top-rated places to stay near South Fork Holston River Lake
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at South Fork Holston River Lake → · more Tennessee lake trips
Follow South Fork Holston River Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
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
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit TN06010102015_1000 · Official waterbody report
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. Its water-quality measurements are published by TDEC and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of South Fork Holston River Lake?
- South Fork Holston River Lake in Sullivan County, Tennessee has water-quality measurements published by TDEC, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 11.9 µg/L.
Is South Fork Holston River Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are 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.
Can I fish at South Fork Holston River Lake?
- South Fork Holston River Lake 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 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
More lakes in Tennessee
Other Lakes in Tennessee
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)
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