Updated Jul 2026
Alabama Lake Water Quality
Water quality grades for 101 monitored lakes across 47 counties.
Across {{stateName}}, 101 lakes carry an active water-quality grade spread over 47 counties. The underlying measurements come from {{agency}}, alongside federal programs and volunteer monitoring networks. A-grade lakes are scarce in {{stateName}}: about 11% of the dataset. Most lakes here sit in C or D — productive, often shallow, frequently algal in late summer.
Eutrophic conditions dominate — nutrient-loaded, productive, with algal pressure that shows up most years in late summer. These lakes tend to be shallow, agricultural-watershed, and over-warmed by the time July ends. Blount ranks highest on average county grade (A). Washington sits lowest. With only 47 counties in the state, the cross-county spread is narrower than the within-county spread for most lakes.
Grade Distribution
How Alabama’s 101 graded lakes break down from A (excellent) to F.
Top-Graded Alabama Lakes
The highest water-quality grades in Alabama — clarity, depth, and A-F grade at a glance.
Smiw Lake
Winston County, Alabama
See grade for Smiw Lake →Yate Lake
Tallapoosa County, Alabama
See grade for Yate Lake →Lbrf Lake
Franklin County, Alabama
See grade for Lbrf Lake →Tust Lake
Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
See grade for Tust Lake →Inlb Lake
Blount County, Alabama
See grade for Inlb Lake →Thue Lake
Elmore County, Alabama
See grade for Thue Lake →Mare Lake
Elmore County, Alabama
See grade for Mare Lake →Mare Lake
Randolph County, Alabama
See grade for Mare Lake →Yate Lake
Tallapoosa County, Alabama
See grade for Yate Lake →Lake Map
Explore Alabama Lakes
Alabama reports, fishing & travel
Alabama Fishing & Recreation
Licenses, regulations, records, and where to fish across Alabama.
Counties
All 47 Alabama counties, ranked by average lake water quality. Compare them against every county nationwide in the county rankings, browse the full directory of graded lakes, or pick a different state.
Top 25 Cleanest Lakes
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smiw Lake | Winston | A | 11.5 ft |
| 2 | Yate Lake | Tallapoosa | A | 7.4 ft |
| 3 | Lbrf Lake | Franklin | A | 11 ft |
| 4 | Tust Lake | Tuscaloosa | A | 7.7 ft |
| 5 | Inlb Lake | Blount | A | 11.9 ft |
| 6 | Thue Lake | Elmore | A | 5.8 ft |
| 7 | Mare Lake | Elmore | A | 10.6 ft |
| 8 | Mare Lake | Randolph | A | 11.5 ft |
| 9 | Yate Lake | Tallapoosa | A | 4.7 ft |
| 10 | Bclm Lake | Mobile | A | 6.9 ft |
| 11 | Sinl Lake | Lawrence | A | 14.5 ft |
| 12 | Nla Lake | Tuscaloosa | B | 6.6 ft |
| 13 | Nla Lake | Bibb | B | 6.9 ft |
| 14 | Fjac Lake | Covington | B | 3.9 ft |
| 15 | Rlhr Lake | Randolph | B | 8.5 ft |
| 16 | Mare Lake | Tallapoosa | B | 6 ft |
| 17 | Geoh Lake | Barbour | B | 5.7 ft |
| 18 | Shlb Lake | Baldwin | B | 4.4 ft |
| 19 | Ncht Lake | Tuscaloosa | B | 5.3 ft |
| 20 | Tlst Lake | Talladega | B | 6.3 ft |
| 21 | Cahc Lake | Cleburne | B | 6.3 ft |
| 22 | Ellf Lake | Franklin | B | 8.8 ft |
| 23 | Lake Andrews | Houston | B | 5.9 ft |
| 24 | Nla Lake | Houston | B | 7.4 ft |
| 25 | Olit Lake | Tuscaloosa | B | 4.3 ft |
25 Lakes Needing Attention
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bvlj Lake | Jefferson | F | 2.1 ft |
| 2 | Nla Lake | Marengo | D | 5.1 ft |
| 3 | Nla Lake | Marengo | D | 2 ft |
| 4 | Nla Lake | Calhoun | D | 2.1 ft |
| 5 | Nla Lake | Washington | D | 4.4 ft |
| 6 | Nla Lake | Cullman | D | 2.2 ft |
| 7 | Tenl Lake | Baldwin | C | 2.2 ft |
| 8 | Nees Lake | Cherokee | C | 2.4 ft |
| 9 | Nees Lake | St. Clair | C | 2.7 ft |
| 10 | Nees Lake | Etowah | C | 2.5 ft |
| 11 | Logs Lake | Talladega | C | 2.6 ft |
| 12 | Logs Lake | St. Clair | C | 3.3 ft |
| 13 | Weic Lake | Cherokee | C | 3.3 ft |
| 14 | Nla Lake | Clay | C | 5.5 ft |
| 15 | Nla Lake | Pickens | C | 3.6 ft |
| 16 | Nla Lake | Talladega | C | 2.8 ft |
| 17 | Warg Lake | Hale | C | 2.1 ft |
| 18 | Butl Lake | Marion | C | - |
| 19 | Berw Lake | Winston | C | 5 ft |
| 20 | Ogll Lake | Lee | C | 4.1 ft |
| 21 | Bwcd Lake | DeKalb | C | 4.3 ft |
| 22 | Albd Lake | DeKalb | C | 6.5 ft |
| 23 | Ctmc Lake | Cullman | C | 5.4 ft |
| 24 | Turl Lake | Lawrence | C | 5 ft |
| 25 | Ducc Lake | Cullman | C | 4.1 ft |
Where to stay near Alabama
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.