Stanford Reservoir
Lincoln County, Kentucky40 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #2 of 2 in the county
- Limited data
Stanford Reservoir in Lincoln County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Surface area: 40 acres.
- Area
- 40 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 16 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Watch Stanford Reservoir’s letter
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Stanford Reservoir is a 40-acre mesotrophic lake in Lincoln County, Kentucky. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2018. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Lincoln County, Stanford Reservoir ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KY DOW, last sampled 2018-10-11. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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 16 µg/L. TSI 44. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 16 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Stanford Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Stanford Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.66 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Stanford Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Rice Lake Dam (completed 1953), built primarily for water supply on the Dix River; earth-type dam, 49 ft tall and 1,000 ft long.
- Surface area
- 40 ac
- Normal storage
- 640 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 980 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.79 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY OF STANFORD
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KY00026 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Lincoln County
Nearby Lakes in Lincoln County
Frequently asked questions about Stanford Reservoir
Where is Stanford Reservoir?
- Stanford Reservoir is a lake in Lincoln County, Kentucky. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Stanford Reservoir?
- Stanford Reservoir in Lincoln County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Surface area: 40 acres.
Is Stanford Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Stanford Reservoir across LakeQuality
More Kentucky Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Kentucky
Mesotrophic Lakes in Kentucky
Where this data comes from
11 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2013–2018. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- KY WQX
21KY_WQX11 samples · 2013–2018
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
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.