El Paso County Lake Quality
Colorado, 3 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
Only 3 lakes in El Paso County carry an active grade. The county-level summary is therefore representative of those specific lakes, not necessarily of every water body in the county. The county-wide average grade is D — water quality issues are persistent across most of the monitored basins. 2 lakes fall into the F bracket outright.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Rampart Reservoir (A); the most-stressed is Prospect Lake (F).
Quick Answers for El Paso County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Rampart Reservoir — or check the official Colorado fishing regulations.
All Lakes in El Paso County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rampart Reservoir | A | 28.5 ft | - |
| 2 | Prospect Lake | F | 1.6 ft | - |
| 3 | Arkansas Lake | F | - | 356.7 µg/L |
Other Counties in Colorado
See how El Paso County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 12 states.
Where to stay near El Paso County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.