Jackson County Lake Quality
North Carolina, 3 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Only 3 lakes in Jackson 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. With an average grade of B, Jackson 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. Wolf Creek Reservoir (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Jackson County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Wolf Creek Reservoir — or check the official North Carolina fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Jackson County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolf Creek Reservoir | A | 19.7 ft | - |
| 2 | Bear Creek Reservoir | B | 7.7 ft | - |
| 3 | Thorpe Reservoir | B | 8.7 ft | - |
Other Counties in North Carolina
See how Jackson 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 Jackson County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.