Tennessee River Lake
Knox County, TennesseeView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
Tennessee River Lake in Knox County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 33 µg/L.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 33 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Tennessee River Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Knox County, Tennessee. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 13 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TDEC, last sampled 2026-05-27. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Tennessee River Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch13 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)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 33 µg/L. TSI 55. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 33 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Recreation & Access
- Boyd IslandPublic
- Marine ParkPublic
- Maloney Road ParkPublic
- George's CreekPublic
- Little RiverPublic
- Stock CreekPublic
Showing 6 of 13 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: ↑ Improving
Based on 13 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.4 µg/L/yr | 13 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Knox County
Nearby Lakes in Knox County
Frequently asked questions about Tennessee River Lake
Where is Tennessee River Lake?
- Tennessee River Lake is a lake in Knox 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 Knox County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 33 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 13 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Boyd Island, Marine Park, Maloney Road Park, George's Creek, 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
Planning a trip around Great Smoky Mountains?
Tennessee River Lake is about 34 miles from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Great Smoky Mountains →More Tennessee Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Tennessee
Eutrophic Lakes in Tennessee
Where this data comes from
102 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_WQX102 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