Gates County Lake Quality
North Carolina, 2 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Gates County has 2 monitored 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. 1 of those lake carry an A–F grade. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. With an average grade of B, Gates County sits comfortably above the North Carolina 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. Merchants Millpond (B) is the cleanest in the county.
Where to stay near Gates County
Top-rated places to stay near Gates County
Prices for Sep 4–6, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Gates County?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Gates County — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Quick Answers for Gates County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Merchants Millpond — or check the official North Carolina fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Gates County
2 lakes · 1 graded, 1 not rated1 graded lake · 1 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BMerchants MillpondGates | B | 1.6 ft | 270 µg/L | 8.2 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| NRMerchants MillpondGates | 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.
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 North Carolina
See how Gates County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario and Québec), and 38 other country hubs..
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.