Wdfa Lake
Lowndes County, Alabama12,300 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
↑ up from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 2 in the county
- Public access
Wdfa Lake in Lowndes County, Alabama has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.1 µg/L. Surface area: 12300 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Area
- 12,300 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 34 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 9.1 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Wdfa Lake’s letter
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Wdfa Lake is a 12,300-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lowndes County, Alabama. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2023. 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 1 other monitored lakes in Lowndes County, Wdfa Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEM, last sampled 2023-10-19. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Wdfa Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Big water12,300 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 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 9.1 µg/L. TSI 56. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 34 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 12,300 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Wdfa Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- BentonPublic
- Prairie Creek CampgroundPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Wdfa Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.014 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.24 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.88 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Wdfa Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Robert F. Henry Lock and Dam (completed 1974), built primarily for navigation on the Alabama River; gravity-type dam, 110 ft tall and 1,150 ft long.
- Surface area
- 12,300 ac
- Normal storage
- 234,200 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 234,200 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 16,233 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- USACE - Mobile District
All listed purposes: Navigation;Recreation;Hydroelectric.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AL01434 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.39 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Lowndes County
Nearby Lakes in Lowndes County
Frequently asked questions about Wdfa Lake
Where is Wdfa Lake?
- Wdfa Lake is a lake in Lowndes County, Alabama. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Wdfa Lake?
- Wdfa Lake in Lowndes County, Alabama has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.1 µg/L. Surface area: 12300 acres.
Is Wdfa 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 Wdfa Lake?
- Wdfa Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Benton, Prairie Creek Campground. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Wdfa Lake across LakeQuality
More Alabama Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Alabama
Where this data comes from
133 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2013–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- ALABAMA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - WATER QUALITY DATA
21AWIC133 samples · 2013–2023
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