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LakeQuality

Tenr Lake

Lauderdale County, Alabama3,220 acresView mapDirections

D
Nutrient-rich

Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.

↓ down from C at the last regrade

Water temp
No reading
No gauge
Clarity
4.2 ft
Secchi · sampled 2026
Level
No reading
No gauge
Trend
No reading
Not enough history
  • Eutrophic
  • #2 of 2 in the county
  • Public access

Tenr Lake in Lauderdale County, Alabama has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 47 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.3 µg/L. Surface area: 3220 acres.

Clarity
4.2 ft
Area
3,220 acres
Type
Eutrophic
Phosphorus
47 µg/L
Chlorophyll-a
9.3 µg/L
Public access
Yes
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Stays near Tenr Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Tenr Lake in Lauderdale County, Alabama — 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 Tenr Lake are listed below.

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Tenr Lake is a 3,220-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2026. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Lauderdale County, Tenr Lake ranks #2 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEM, last sampled 2026-04-22. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.

What Tenr Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

  • Boat launch1 documented ramp
  • Big water3,220 acres

Swimming Safety

Grade only

Elevated 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. Check local advisories before you swim.

Get alerts for Tenr Lake

Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)

Murky, only visible to about 4.2 ft. Phosphorus 47 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 9.3 µg/L. TSI 56. The letter is not a swimming clearance.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)4.2 ftNot graded
Phosphorus47 µg/LPoor
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)9.3 µg/LFair
Trophic State Index (TSI)56Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Surface Area3,220 acres
Public AccessYes

No bathymetric survey has been published for Tenr Lake, so its depth is not documented here.

Recreation & Access

1
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access
  • Second CreekPublic

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

Fishing Tenr Lake

Reservoir Info (USACE NID)

Tenr Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Wheeler Dam (completed 1936), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Tennessee River; concrete-type dam, 175 ft tall and 1,000 ft long.

Surface area
3,220 ac
Normal storage
182,436 ac-ft
Max storage
228,045 ac-ft
Drainage area
232 sq mi
Hazard class
High
Owner
TVA

All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Navigation;Recreation.

Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AL07701 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.92 km)

County Ranking

Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Lauderdale County

Nearby Lakes in Lauderdale County

Frequently asked questions about Tenr Lake

Where is Tenr Lake?

Tenr Lake is a lake in Lauderdale County, Alabama. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.

What is the water quality grade for Tenr Lake?

Tenr Lake in Lauderdale County, Alabama has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 47 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.3 µg/L. Surface area: 3220 acres.

Is Tenr Lake safe to swim in?

The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.

Are there boat ramps on Tenr Lake?

Tenr Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Second Creek. Public access is listed as yes.

Eutrophic Lakes in Alabama

Where this data comes from

86 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2018–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

  • ALABAMA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - WATER QUALITY DATA21AWIC86 samples · 2018–2026

Analytical methods

  • Phosphorus by Colorimetry
  • 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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

Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory