Durham County Lake Quality
North Carolina, 3 lakes, average grade F (Algae-prone)
Durham County holds 3 monitored lakes. With a sample that small the county-level summary describes those specific waters, not necessarily every water body in the county. 2 of those lakes carry an A–F grade. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. The county average is F — the most-stressed bracket in our rubric. Most monitored lakes here show persistent nutrient loading and algal pressure.
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 (F) is the cleanest in the county.
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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
3 lakes · 2 graded, 1 not rated2 graded lakes · 1 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FLittle River ReservoirDurham | F | 3.1 ft | 50 µg/L | 31 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 2 | FLake MichieDurham | F | 2.6 ft | 50 µg/L | 36 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| NRParkwood LakeDurham | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
NR = not rated: there is not enough recent sampling to support a letter. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.
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Other Counties in North Carolina
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.