We examined the relationship between chlorophylla(chla) and phosphorus (P) concentration among 52 clear, 21 organically stained (yellow colored), and 14 glacially turbid (silty) lakes in Alaska. A weak correlation (r2= 0.14) exists between seasonal mean chlaand total phosphorus (TP) with most of die error related to the glacial lakes. However, nonbiologically available P represents 52% of TP in glacial lakes compared to only 12% in clear lakes and 15% in stained lakes. TP corrected for nonbiologically available phosphorus (CTP) explains 55% of the variation in chlaacross lake typologies. However, chlaresponse to CTP is greater in clear lakes compared to stained lakes. Despite having higher CTP concentrations, the CTP-chlarelationship is not significant for the glacial lakes, suggesting the influence of other factors on chla. Considering clear, stained, and glacial lakes together, adding turbidity and color along with CTP accounts for 60% of the variation in chla. The additional variability explained (32%) by the multivariate model represents a composite measure of the influence of lake typology on the TP-chlarelationship. Despite the comparatively narrow range in chla(0.1 to 9.9 μg · L−1) and CTP concentrations (1.7 to 36.2 μg · L−1) and the wide range in turbidity (0.2 to 48.6 NTU) and color (2 to 55 platinum-cobalt units), our multivariate model provides a foundation for defining specific lake typology criteria (other than P) that can better predict chla. Application of our model will benefit assessment of regional changes in water quality, trophic status, and fish habitat across a variety of lake types.