Skip to main content
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% earn a water-quality grade of A or B and 9.4% score D or F (average grade C). Lake Worth is the cleanest; 13 lakes (35.1%) are on an official impaired-waters list.

Data Report

37
Monitored lakes graded
C
Average grade
18.8%
Grade A or B
35.1%
On impaired list

Georgia grade distribution

A
B
C
D
A: 3 (9.4%)B: 3 (9.4%)C: 23 (71.9%)D: 3 (9.4%)F: 0 (0.0%)

Cleanest lakes in Georgia

Highest combined water-quality score, 2026.

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

Most-polluted lakes

Lowest combined water-quality score among monitored lakes.

  1. 1.DLake Jackson — Jasper County4.6 ft clarity · 25 µg/L P · 17 µg/L chl-a
  2. 2.DHigh Falls Lake — Monroe County3.3 ft clarity · 40 µg/L P · 23 µg/L chl-a
  3. 3.DLake Allatoona — Cherokee County3.8 ft clarity · 30 µg/L P · 19 µg/L chl-a
  4. 4.CWesc Lake — Troup County6.0 ft clarity · 12 µg/L P · 11 µg/L chl-a
  5. 5.CLake Oconee — Greene County5.6 ft clarity · 20 µg/L P · 13 µg/L chl-a
  6. 6.CLake Blue Ridge — Fannin County9.5 ft clarity · 20 µg/L P · 4 µg/L chl-a
  7. 7.CLake Tobesofkee — Bibb County4.7 ft clarity · 30 µg/L P · 13 µg/L chl-a
  8. 8.CLake Sidney Lanier — Forsyth County9.2 ft clarity · 20 µg/L P · 8 µg/L chl-a
  9. 9.CGoat Rock Lake — Harris County5.2 ft clarity · 20 µg/L P · 6 µg/L chl-a
  10. 10.CWest Point Lake — Troup County7.2 ft clarity · 20 µg/L P · 11 µg/L chl-a

Worst algae hotspots

Highest measured chlorophyll-a (algae) concentration.

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

Trending lakes

Improving

  1. 1.NRLick Creek Cove Lake — Putnam County

Declining

  1. 1.DLake Allatoona — Cherokee County
  2. 2.CWesc Lake — Troup County
  3. 3.CLake Oconee — Greene County
  4. 4.CLake Sidney Lanier — Forsyth County
  5. 5.CGoat Rock Lake — Harris County
  6. 6.CWest Point Lake — Troup County
  7. 7.CLake Oliver — Muscogee County
  8. 8.CLake 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 grade

Grades 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”.