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LakeQuality

Data Report · Updated July 2026

The State of Kentucky’s Lakes 2026

Of 121 monitored lakes in Kentucky, 27.3% earn a water-quality grade of A or B and 29.8% score D or F (average grade C). Nla Lake is the cleanest;

121
Monitored lakes graded
C
Average grade
27.3%
Grade A or B
0%
On impaired list

Kentucky grade distribution

A
B
C
D
F
A: 10 (8.3%)B: 23 (19.0%)C: 52 (43.0%)D: 25 (20.7%)F: 11 (9.1%)

Cleanest lakes in Kentucky

Highest combined water-quality score, 2026.

  1. 1.ANla Lake — Bell County8.7 ft clarity · 9 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
  2. 2.ANla Lake — Greenup County19.5 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
  3. 3.ANla Lake — Jackson County5.7 ft clarity · 9 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
  4. 4.ANla Lake — Hopkins County8.0 ft clarity · 11 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
  5. 5.BRough River Lake — Breckinridge County6.4 ft clarity · 23 µg/L P · 4 µg/L chl-a
  6. 6.BNolin Lake — Edmonson County5.5 ft clarity · 18 µg/L P · 10 µg/L chl-a
  7. 7.BNla Lake — Lincoln County3.8 ft clarity · 16 µg/L P · 17 µg/L chl-a
  8. 8.CNla Lake — Webster County5.1 ft clarity · 29 µg/L P · 15 µg/L chl-a
  9. 9.CNla Lake — Grant County2.5 ft clarity · 35 µg/L P · 28 µg/L chl-a
  10. 10.DNla Lake — Christian County4.4 ft clarity · 25000 µg/L P · 11 µg/L chl-a

Most-polluted lakes

Lowest combined water-quality score among monitored lakes.

  1. 1.FNla Lake — Fulton County1.5 ft clarity · 469 µg/L P · 46 µg/L chl-a
  2. 2.FNla Lake — Shelby County2.1 ft clarity · 95000 µg/L P · 54 µg/L chl-a
  3. 3.FNla Lake — Graves County1.1 ft clarity · 197 µg/L P · 54 µg/L chl-a
  4. 4.DNla Lake — Shelby County3.9 ft clarity · 75000 µg/L P · 22 µg/L chl-a
  5. 5.DNla Lake — Christian County4.4 ft clarity · 25000 µg/L P · 11 µg/L chl-a
  6. 6.DNla Lake — Madison County4.4 ft clarity · 44000 µg/L P · 11 µg/L chl-a
  7. 7.DNla Lake — Hart County4.6 ft clarity · 25000 µg/L P · 10 µg/L chl-a
  8. 8.CNla Lake — Grant County2.5 ft clarity · 35 µg/L P · 28 µg/L chl-a
  9. 9.CNla Lake — Webster County5.1 ft clarity · 29 µg/L P · 15 µg/L chl-a
  10. 10.BNolin Lake — Edmonson County5.5 ft clarity · 18 µg/L P · 10 µg/L chl-a

Worst algae hotspots

Highest measured chlorophyll-a (algae) concentration.

  1. 1.FNla Lake — Graves County54 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  2. 2.FNla Lake — Shelby County54 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  3. 3.FNla Lake — Fulton County46 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  4. 4.CNla Lake — Grant County28 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  5. 5.DNla Lake — Shelby County22 µg/L chlorophyll-a

Explore Kentucky 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 Kentucky lakes.

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