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LakeQuality

Most well-managed working lakes register as mesotrophic — the band that balances productivity with clarity. 4 lakes in Tennessee sit in the mesotrophic band. About 0% are deep (50+ ft); the rest are shallower basins where watershed management keeps nutrients from pushing the system into eutrophy.

Mesotrophic lakes sit in the middle of the phosphorus and chlorophyll-a range: productive but still clear, with readings that rarely reach the EPA's poorest condition class.

#LakeCountyClarityDepthTSI
1Piney River LakeRhea6.4 ft-48
2Calderwood LakeBlount16.4 ft-43
3Poor Valley Creek LakeHawkins--47
4Emory River LakeRoane--49

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.