The State of Texas's Lakes 2026

Cleanest lakes in Texas

Highest combined water-quality score, 2026.

1. 1.ALake Hawkins — Wood County6.7 ft clarity · 20 µg/L P · 7 µg/L chl-a
2. 2.BHubbard Creek Reservoir — Stephens County3.1 ft clarity · 30 µg/L P · 9 µg/L chl-a
3. 3.CLake Fk Reservoir — Wood County1.9 ft clarity · 53 µg/L P
4. 4.CLynchburg Reservoir — Harris County1.1 ft clarity · 99 µg/L P · 6 µg/L chl-a
5. 5.CLake Bob Sandlin — Camp County3.9 ft clarity · 30 µg/L P · 20 µg/L chl-a
6. 6.CB A Steinhagen Reservoir — Jasper County1.1 ft clarity · 60 µg/L P · 11 µg/L chl-a
7. 7.CLake Gilmer — Upshur County3.0 ft clarity · 38 µg/L P · 25 µg/L chl-a
8. 8.CSam Rayburn Reservoir — San Augustine County3.9 ft clarity · 28 µg/L P · 19 µg/L chl-a
9. 9.CPurtis Creek Lake — Henderson County3.0 ft clarity · 45 µg/L P · 26 µg/L chl-a
10. 10.CLake Tyler E — Smith County3.3 ft clarity · 25 µg/L P · 26 µg/L chl-a

Most-polluted lakes

Lowest combined water-quality score among monitored lakes.

1. 1.FLake Ray Hubbard — Rockwall County2.0 ft clarity · 64 µg/L P · 32 µg/L chl-a
2. 2.FLake Houston S Union Pacific Rr Bridge — Harris County1.3 ft clarity · 211 µg/L P · 37 µg/L chl-a
3. 3.FLavon Lake — Collin County1.4 ft clarity · 107 µg/L P · 48 µg/L chl-a
4. 4.FLake Palestine — Smith County2.0 ft clarity · 48 µg/L P · 57 µg/L chl-a
5. 5.FLake Murvaul — Panola County2.1 ft clarity · 54 µg/L P · 65 µg/L chl-a
6. 6.FLake O the Pines Mid Lake — Marion County2.7 ft clarity · 30 µg/L P · 42 µg/L chl-a
7. 7.FLake Amon G Carter — Montague County2.3 ft clarity · 40 µg/L P · 40 µg/L chl-a
8. 8.FUpper Lake Palestine — Smith County1.6 ft clarity · 80 µg/L P · 62 µg/L chl-a
9. 9.FLeon Reservoir — Eastland County1.8 ft clarity · 30 µg/L P · 37 µg/L chl-a
10. 10.FLake Opines — Marion County2.0 ft clarity · 50 µg/L P · 59 µg/L chl-a

Worst algae hotspots

Highest measured chlorophyll-a (algae) concentration.

1. 1.NRRita Blanca Lake — Hartley County345 µg/L chlorophyll-a
2. 2.NRPalo Duro Reservoir — Hansford County140 µg/L chlorophyll-a
3. 3.FSpringfield Lake — Limestone County129 µg/L chlorophyll-a
4. 4.FLake Kirby — Taylor County124 µg/L chlorophyll-a
5. 5.FLake Fryer — Ochiltree County124 µg/L chlorophyll-a
6. 6.NRVictor Braunig Lake — Bexar County91 µg/L chlorophyll-a
7. 7.FBuffalo Springs Lake — Lubbock County83 µg/L chlorophyll-a
8. 8.FLake Weatherford — Parker County80 µg/L chlorophyll-a
9. 9.FLake Somerville Mid Lake — Burleson County69 µg/L chlorophyll-a
10. 10.FSomerville Lake Big Creek Arm — Burleson County68 µg/L chlorophyll-a

Trending lakes

Improving

1. 1.BBois D'Arc Lake — Fannin County
2. 2.BFairfield Lake — Freestone County
3. 3.CLake Brownwood N End of Dam — Brown County
4. 4.CSam Rayburn Lake — Nacogdoches County
5. 5.CUpper Pat Mayse Reservoir — Lamar County
6. 6.CPat Mayse Reservoir — Lamar County
7. 7.CSam Rayburn Reserv Lake — Nacogdoches County
8. 8.DLake Houston — Harris County

Declining

1. 1.FLake Palestine — Smith County
2. 2.FJim L Chapman Lake — Delta County
3. 3.FLake Kirby — Taylor County
4. 4.FLake O the Pines Mid Lake — Marion County
5. 5.FLake Cypress Springs Mid Lake — Franklin County
6. 6.FLake Weatherford — Parker County
7. 7.FUpper Lake Palestine — Smith County
8. 8.FBuffalo Springs Lake — Lubbock County