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LakeQuality
Pink and orange afterglow over the treeline on Slim Lake after sunset

Updated August 2026

The State of Georgia's Lakes 2026

Of 37 lakes in Georgia, 18.8% sit in EPA's favourable condition classes for nutrients and algae and 9.4% in its poorer ones. Lake Worth is the cleanest; 13 lakes (35.1%) are on an official impaired-waters list.

Data Report

37
Monitored lakes sampled
C
Average readings
18.8%
low nutrient and algae readings
35.1%
On impaired list

Georgia nutrient and algae readings

Cleanest lakes in Georgia

Cleanest combined nutrient and algae readings, 2026.

  1. 1.Lake Worth — Dougherty County3.7 ft clarity · 47 µg/L P · 5 µg/L chl-a
  2. 2.Flint River Reservoir — Dougherty County4.3 ft clarity · 30 µg/L P · 5 µg/L chl-a
  3. 3.Harl Lake — Harris County6.1 ft clarity · 13 µg/L P · 5 µg/L chl-a
  4. 4.Lake Blackshear — Crisp County3.9 ft clarity · 31 µg/L P · 13 µg/L chl-a
  5. 5.Geoh Lake — Stewart County3.7 ft clarity · 32 µg/L P · 12 µg/L chl-a
  6. 6.Banks Lake — Lanier County3.2 ft clarity · 30 µg/L P · 8 µg/L chl-a
  7. 7.Wesc Lake — Troup County6.0 ft clarity · 12 µg/L P · 11 µg/L chl-a
  8. 8.Lake Oconee — Greene County5.6 ft clarity · 20 µg/L P · 13 µg/L chl-a
  9. 9.Lake Blue Ridge — Fannin County9.5 ft clarity · 20 µg/L P · 4 µg/L chl-a
  10. 10.Lake Tobesofkee — Bibb County4.7 ft clarity · 30 µg/L P · 13 µg/L chl-a

Highest measured algae

Highest measured chlorophyll-a (algae) concentration.

  1. 1.High Falls Lake — Monroe County23 µg/L chlorophyll-a

Trending lakes

Improving

  1. 1.Lick Creek Cove Lake — Putnam County

Declining

  1. 1.Lake Allatoona — Cherokee County
  2. 2.Wesc Lake — Troup County
  3. 3.Lake Oconee — Greene County
  4. 4.Lake Sidney Lanier — Forsyth County
  5. 5.Goat Rock Lake — Harris County
  6. 6.West Point Lake — Troup County
  7. 7.Lake Oliver — Muscogee County
  8. 8.Lake Sinclair — Baldwin County

Impaired waters in Georgia

13 lakes appear on the EPA/state 303(d) impaired-waters list (8 formally listed, 11 with a cleanup plan/TMDL).

PCBs · 8Algal growth · 4Metals (other than mercury) · 3Mercury · 3Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen) · 1

Explore Georgia lakes

Lake Fishing Forecast

Species activity outlook by water temperature and season

Georgia Lake Trips

Where to stay at Georgia's top lakes, each with its readings

Readings combine total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity 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”.