Catawba County Lake Quality
North Carolina, 3 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Catawba County has 3 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. With an average grade of B, Catawba County sits comfortably above the {{stateName}} median.
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. Lookout Shoals Lake (B) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Catawba County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Lookout Shoals Lake — or check the official North Carolina fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Catawba County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lookout Shoals Lake | B | - | 20 µg/L |
| 2 | Newton City Lake | B | - | - |
| 3 | Lake Hickory | C | - | 30 µg/L |
Other Counties in North Carolina
See how Catawba 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 Catawba County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.