Warg Lake
Hale County, Alabama7,800 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
↑ up from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 3 in the county
- Public access
Warg Lake in Hale County, Alabama has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.7 µg/L. Surface area: 7800 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.8 ft
- Area
- 7,800 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 27.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 11.7 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Warg Lake’s letter
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Warg Lake is a 7,800-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hale County, Alabama. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Hale County, Warg Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEM, last sampled 2024-10-22. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Warg Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Big water7,800 acres
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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)
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 27.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 11.7 µg/L. TSI 56. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 27.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 7,800 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Warg Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Warrior Lock and Dam (Lower Pool - Selden)Public
- Lock No 7 WestPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Warg Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.022 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.48 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Warg Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the A.I. Selden Lock and Dam (completed 1958), built primarily for navigation on the Black Warrior River; gravity-type dam, 71 ft tall and 684 ft long.
- Surface area
- 7,800 ac
- Normal storage
- 49,100 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 58,650 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 5,810 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- USACE - Mobile District
All listed purposes: Navigation;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AL01429 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.19 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Hale County
Nearby Lakes in Hale County
Frequently asked questions about Warg Lake
Where is Warg Lake?
- Warg Lake is a lake in Hale County, Alabama. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Warg Lake?
- Warg Lake in Hale County, Alabama has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.7 µg/L. Surface area: 7800 acres.
Is Warg Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Warg Lake?
- Warg Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Warrior Lock and Dam (Lower Pool - Selden), Lock No 7 West. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Warg Lake across LakeQuality
More Alabama Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Alabama
Where this data comes from
112 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- ALABAMA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - WATER QUALITY DATA
21AWIC112 samples · 2012–2024
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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