Haywood County Lake Quality
North Carolina, 6 lakes, average grade D (Nutrient-rich)
Haywood County holds 6 monitored lakes. With a sample that small the county-level summary describes those specific waters, not necessarily every water body in the county. 3 of those lakes carry an A–F grade. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. The county-wide average grade is D — water quality issues are persistent across most of the monitored basins. 0 lakes fall into the F bracket outright.
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 Allen Creek Reservoir (C); the most-stressed is Waterville Lake (D).
Where to stay near Haywood County
Top-rated places to stay near Haywood 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 Haywood County?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Haywood County — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Quick Answers for Haywood County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Allen Creek Reservoir — or check the official North Carolina fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Haywood County
6 lakes · 3 graded, 3 not rated3 graded lakes · 3 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CAllen Creek ReservoirHaywood | C | No recent samples | No recent samples | 6.8 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 2 | DWaterville LakeHaywood | D | No recent samples | 60 µg/L | 17.5 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 3 | DLake JunaluskaHaywood | D | No recent samples | 20 µg/L | 15 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| NRLake LoganHaywood | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRLake JunaluskaHaywood | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRWaterville LakeHaywood | 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 Haywood 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.