New Hanover County Lake Quality
North Carolina, 3 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Only 3 lakes in New Hanover 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. New Hanover County averages to a C. The distribution behind that average matters more than the letter: a few stressed lakes versus many decent ones can produce the same average as the inverse.
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 Sutton Lake (B); the most-stressed is Greenfield Lake (D).
Quick Answers for New Hanover County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Sutton Lake — or check the official North Carolina fishing regulations.
All Lakes in New Hanover County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sutton Lake | B | 10 ft | 30 µg/L |
| 2 | Center of Sutton Lake | B | 6.7 ft | - |
| 3 | Greenfield Lake | D | 4.7 ft | 55 µg/L |
Other Counties in North Carolina
See how New Hanover 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 New Hanover County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.