Tennessee River Lake
Rhea County, TennesseeView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #2 of 2 in the county
- Public access
Tennessee River Lake in Rhea County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.1 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 7.1 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 29.1 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Tennessee River Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Rhea County, Tennessee. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 10 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Rhea County, Tennessee River Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TDEC, last sampled 2026-06-11. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Tennessee River Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch10 documented ramps
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.1 ft. Phosphorus 29.1 µg/L. TSI 51. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Recreation & Access
- Cottonport Wildlife Management AreaPublic
- Dayton Boat Dock (North)Public
- Frazier ParkPublic
- Blythe Ferry (North)Public
- GarrisonPublic
- Blythe Ferry (South)Public
Showing 6 of 10 documented landings from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory.
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Tennessee River Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 15 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.175 m/yr | 14 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.75 µg/L/yr | 15 |
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Rhea County
Nearby Lakes in Rhea County
Frequently asked questions about Tennessee River Lake
Where is Tennessee River Lake?
- Tennessee River Lake is a lake in Rhea County, Tennessee. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Tennessee River Lake?
- Tennessee River Lake in Rhea County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.1 µg/L.
Is Tennessee River Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Tennessee River Lake?
- Tennessee River Lake has 10 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cottonport Wildlife Management Area, Dayton Boat Dock (North), Frazier Park, Blythe Ferry (North), among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Tennessee River Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Tennessee's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Tennessee's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Tennessee Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Tennessee
Eutrophic Lakes in Tennessee
Where this data comes from
151 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- TDEC Division of Water Resources
TDECWR_WQX151 samples · 2012–2026
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 4500 P H ~ Manual Digestion and Flow Injection Analysis for Total Phosphorus
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
- 2120 C ~ Color in Water by Spectrophotometry
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.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory