The State of Kentucky's Lakes 2026

Cleanest lakes in Kentucky

Highest combined water-quality score, 2026.

1. 1.BLake Beshear — Christian County30 µg/L P
2. 2.BMoffit Lake — Union County30 µg/L P
3. 3.BPennyrile Lake — Christian County30 µg/L P
4. 4.BCap Mauzy Lake — Union County30 µg/L P
5. 5.CGreenbo Lake — Greenup County30 µg/L P
6. 6.CSmoky Valley Lake — Carter County30 µg/L P
7. 7.CCorinth Lake — Grant County30 µg/L P
8. 8.CPanbowl Lake — Breathitt County30 µg/L P
9. 9.CMill Creek Lake — Wolfe County30 µg/L P
10. 10.CFishpond Lake — Letcher County30 µg/L P

Most-polluted lakes

Lowest combined water-quality score among monitored lakes.

1. 1.DGuist Creek Lake — Shelby County66 µg/L P
2. 2.DBoltz Lake — Grant County37 µg/L P
3. 3.DBullock Pen Lake — Boone County39 µg/L P
4. 4.DLake Elmer Davis — Owen County45 µg/L P
5. 5.DLake Jericho — Henry County44 µg/L P
6. 6.DShelby Lake — Shelby County95 µg/L P
7. 7.DEnergy Lake — Trigg County36 µg/L P
8. 8.CGreenbo Lake — Greenup County30 µg/L P
9. 9.CSmoky Valley Lake — Carter County30 µg/L P
10. 10.CCorinth Lake — Grant County30 µg/L P

Worst algae hotspots

Highest measured chlorophyll-a (algae) concentration.

No qualifying lakes with sufficient data.

Trending lakes

Improving

1. 1.BGrayson Lake — Carter County
2. 2.BFishtrap Lake — Pike County
3. 3.BFreeman Lake — Hardin County
4. 4.CPaintsville Lake — Johnson County
5. 5.CDewey Lake — Floyd County
6. 6.DCampbellsville City Reservoir — Taylor County
7. 7.NRHerrington Lake — Boyle County
8. 8.NRPaintsville Lake — Johnson County

Declining

1. 1.DTaylor Fork Lake — Madison County
2. 2.DBoltz Lake — Grant County
3. 3.DBullock Pen Lake — Boone County
4. 4.DLake Elmer Davis — Owen County
5. 5.DLake Reba — Madison County
6. 6.DLake Jericho — Henry County
7. 7.DMill Creek Lake — Monroe County
8. 8.DShelby Lake — Shelby County