Sacramento County Lake Quality
California, 1 lake, average grade A (Excellent)
Sacramento County has 1 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. On average, Sacramento County lakes grade an A. That puts it near the top of the California county ranking.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Sherman Lake (A) is the cleanest in the county.
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Quick Answers for Sacramento County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Sherman Lake — or check the official California fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Sacramento County
1 lake1 graded lake
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ASherman LakeSacramento | A | No recent samples | No recent samples | 3.2 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
Lake Match
Which lake suits how you actually use one?
Six questions — swimming, fishing, quiet, cabins, drive time — and a shortlist of graded lakes that fit, with the water quality behind each one.
Other Counties in California
See how Sacramento County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 49 states and 2 Canadian provinces.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.