Discover the cleanest and dirtiest lakes in the United States, with Central Florida leading the way in lake cleanliness. Lake.com researchers have analyzed eight key factors to determine the cleanliness levels of lakes nationwide, including dissolved oxygen levels, ammonia levels, lead levels, phosphorous levels, sulfate levels, total dissolved solids, turbidity, and pH.
Cleanest Lakes in the United States
Florida’s Lake Louise has been named the cleanest lake in the country, boasting minimal counts across all eight cleanliness indicators. Axhandle Lake in Wisconsin and Bear Gully Lake in Florida follow closely behind.
Top 10 Cleanest Lakes:
| Rank | Lake | State | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Louise | FL | Orange County |
| 2 | Axhandle Lake | WI | Chippewa County |
| 3 | Bear Gully Lake | FL | Seminole County |
| 4 | Lake Mooney | VA | Stafford County |
| 5 | Aberdeen Lake | MS | Monroe County |
| 6 | Amory Lake | FL | Seminole County |
| 7 | Lake Downey | FL | Orange County |
| 8 | Claytor Lake | VA | Pulaski County |
| 9 | Sylvan Lake | FL | Seminole County |
| 10 | Lake Spivey | FL | Pasco County |
Dirtiest Lakes in the United States
On the other end of the spectrum, Utah Lake in Utah has been identified as the dirtiest lake in the nation, with high levels of contaminants. Texas has two lakes in the top three dirtiest: Lake J. B. Thomas and Lake Wichita.
Top 10 Dirtiest Lakes:
| Rank | Lake | State | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah Lake | UT | Utah County |
| 2 | Lake J. B. Thomas | TX | Scurry County |
| 3 | Lake Wichita | TX | Wichita County |
| 4 | Waurika Lake | OK | Jefferson County |
| 5 | Dave Boyer (Walters) Lake | OK | Cotton County |
| 6 | Lake Buchanan | TX | Burnet County |
| 7 | Lake Helena | MT | Lewis and Clark County |
| 8 | Lake Ellsworth | OK | Comanche County |
| 9 | Hammock Lake | FL | Polk County |
| 10 | Wolf Branch Canal | FL | Lake County |
These rankings highlight the importance of maintaining lake cleanliness to ensure the health of our ecosystems and communities. Central Florida, in particular, shines with multiple lakes in the top cleanest list, showcasing its commitment to environmental preservation.