Tennessee River Lake
Marion County, TennesseeView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Dioxins
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
Tennessee River Lake in Marion County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 7.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35.4 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 7.6 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 35.4 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Tennessee River Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Tennessee River Lake in Marion 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Tennessee River Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Tennessee River Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 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 Tennessee River Lake → · more Tennessee lake trips
Watch Tennessee River Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Tennessee River Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Marion County, Tennessee. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 5 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TDEC, last sampled 2026-06-10. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Tennessee River Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch5 documented ramps
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Tennessee River Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for dioxins, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.6 ft. Phosphorus 35.4 µg/L. TSI 52. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 35.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Recreation & Access
- Suck CreekPublic
- Raccoon MountainPublic
- SullivansPublic
- Ross's LandingPublic
- Browns Ferry Landing MarinaSemi-private
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: ↓ Declining
Based on 15 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.176 m/yr | 13 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.09 µg/L/yr | 15 |
EPA Impairment Status
Tennessee 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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit TN06020001001_1000 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.9 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Marion County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Tennessee River Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Marion County
Frequently asked questions about Tennessee River Lake
Where is Tennessee River Lake?
- Tennessee River Lake is a lake in Marion County, Tennessee. LakeQuality grades it D 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 Marion County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 7.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35.4 µg/L.
Is Tennessee River Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Tennessee River Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for dioxins, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Tennessee River Lake?
- Tennessee River Lake has 5 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Suck Creek, Raccoon Mountain, Sullivans, Ross's Landing, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Tennessee River Lake across LakeQuality
16.6 mi away · 60 ft
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 D Lakes in Tennessee
Eutrophic Lakes in Tennessee
Where this data comes from
146 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_WQX146 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory