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LakeQuality

Data Report · Updated July 2026

The State of Georgia’s Lakes 2026

Of 70 monitored lakes in Georgia, 31.4% earn a water-quality grade of A or B and 12.9% score D or F (average grade C). Nla Lake is the cleanest;

70
Monitored lakes graded
C
Average grade
31.4%
Grade A or B
0%
On impaired list

Georgia grade distribution

B
C
D
A: 2 (2.9%)B: 20 (28.6%)C: 39 (55.7%)D: 8 (11.4%)F: 1 (1.4%)

Cleanest lakes in Georgia

Highest combined water-quality score, 2026.

  1. 1.ANla Lake — Washington County15.1 ft clarity · 7 µg/L P · 1 µg/L chl-a
  2. 2.BNla Lake — Rabun County5.6 ft clarity · 19 µg/L P · 15 µg/L chl-a
  3. 3.BNla Lake — Carroll County5.7 ft clarity · 24 µg/L P · 11 µg/L chl-a
  4. 4.BNla Lake — Turner County4.5 ft clarity · 22 µg/L P · 9 µg/L chl-a
  5. 5.CNla Lake — Fannin County10.6 ft clarity · 19000 µg/L P · 1 µg/L chl-a
  6. 6.CNla Lake — Pickens County13.2 ft clarity · 14000 µg/L P · 1 µg/L chl-a
  7. 7.CNla Lake — Bartow County7.6 ft clarity · 36 µg/L P · 7 µg/L chl-a
  8. 8.CNla Lake — Lanier County5.6 ft clarity · 27 µg/L P · 12 µg/L chl-a
  9. 9.CNla Lake — Candler County6.3 ft clarity · 60 µg/L P · 20 µg/L chl-a
  10. 10.CNla Lake — Sumter County2.9 ft clarity · 35 µg/L P · 33 µg/L chl-a

Most-polluted lakes

Lowest combined water-quality score among monitored lakes.

  1. 1.FNla Lake — Richmond County1.1 ft clarity · 183 µg/L P · 68 µg/L chl-a
  2. 2.DNla Lake — Crawford County1.5 ft clarity · 67 µg/L P · 86 µg/L chl-a
  3. 3.DNla Lake — Charlton County0.5 ft clarity · 81000 µg/L P · 20 µg/L chl-a
  4. 4.DNla Lake — Glynn County2.9 ft clarity · 216 µg/L P · 34 µg/L chl-a
  5. 5.DNla Lake — Dodge County3.4 ft clarity · 46000 µg/L P · 24 µg/L chl-a
  6. 6.DNla Lake — Gwinnett County3.2 ft clarity · 82 µg/L P · 59 µg/L chl-a
  7. 7.DNla Lake — Candler County3.4 ft clarity · 39000 µg/L P · 15 µg/L chl-a
  8. 8.DNla Lake — Wheeler County2.8 ft clarity · 36000 µg/L P · 18 µg/L chl-a
  9. 9.CNla Lake — Sumter County2.9 ft clarity · 35 µg/L P · 33 µg/L chl-a
  10. 10.CNla Lake — Upson County5.2 ft clarity · 28000 µg/L P · 7 µg/L chl-a

Worst algae hotspots

Highest measured chlorophyll-a (algae) concentration.

  1. 1.DNla Lake — Crawford County86 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  2. 2.FNla Lake — Richmond County68 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  3. 3.DNla Lake — Gwinnett County59 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  4. 4.DNla Lake — Glynn County34 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  5. 5.CNla Lake — Sumter County33 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  6. 6.DNla Lake — Dodge County24 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  7. 7.DHigh Falls Lake — Monroe County23 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  8. 8.DNla Lake — Charlton County20 µg/L chlorophyll-a

Explore Georgia lakes

Lake Fishing Forecast

Species activity outlook by water temperature and season

Grades combine Secchi clarity, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a from the EPA Water Quality Portal and state agencies. See the full methodology, the national State of America’s Lakes report, or all Georgia lakes.

Cite this report: LakeQuality, “The State of Georgia’s Lakes 2026,” lakequality.org/report/ga.