South Lake
Ohio County, KentuckyView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #3 of 3 in the county
- 37 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
South Lake in Ohio County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 18.5 µg/L.
- Max depth
- ~37 ft est.
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 18.5 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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South Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Ohio County, Kentucky with an estimated average depth of about 37 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2019. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Ohio County, South Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KY DOW, last sampled 2019-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What South Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
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 B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 18.5 µg/L. TSI 46. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 18.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~37 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~13 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Kentucky has not published bathymetry for South Lake.
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
- South Lake - 1Public
- South Lake - 2Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing South Lake
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Ohio County
Nearby Lakes in Ohio County
Frequently asked questions about South Lake
Where is South Lake?
- South Lake is a lake in Ohio County, Kentucky. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for South Lake?
- South Lake in Ohio County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 18.5 µg/L.
Is South Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is South Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers South Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 37 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 South Lake?
- South Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include South Lake - 1, South Lake - 2. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore South Lake across LakeQuality
More Kentucky Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Kentucky
Mesotrophic Lakes in Kentucky
Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2019. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- KY WQX
21KY_WQX12 samples · 2019
Analytical methods
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory