Howard County Lake Quality
Maryland, 3 lakes — no lake here has enough monitoring data for a grade
Only 3 lakes in Howard 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'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 Centennial Lake (—); the most-stressed is Centennial Lake (—).
Quick Answers for Howard County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Centennial Lake — or check the official Maryland fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Howard County
3 lakes · 0 graded, 3 not rated0 graded lakes · 3 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRCentennial LakeHoward | NR | 3.3 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRLake KittamaqundiHoward | NR | 3.3 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRWilde LakeHoward | NR | 4.9 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
NR = not rated: the monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar for a grade. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.
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 Maryland
See how Howard County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 39 states and 2 Canadian provinces.
Where to stay near Howard County
Top-rated places to stay near Howard County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.