Durham County Lake Quality
North Carolina, 2 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
Only 2 lakes in Durham 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. On average, Durham County lakes grade D, with phosphorus loading and reduced clarity showing up across most of the dataset.
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. Little River Reservoir (D) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Durham County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Little River Reservoir — or check the official North Carolina fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Durham County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little River Reservoir | D | 3 ft | 40 µg/L |
| 2 | Lake Michie | D | 2.6 ft | 47.5 µg/L |
Other Counties in North Carolina
See how Durham 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 Durham County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.