Orange County Lake Quality
North Carolina, 10 lakes, average grade D (Nutrient-rich)
Orange County has 10 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. 7 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. 2 lakes fall into the F bracket outright.
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. Lake Ben Johnson (C) is the cleanest in the county.
Where to stay near Orange County
Top-rated places to stay near Orange 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 Orange County?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Orange County — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Quick Answers for Orange County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Lake Ben Johnson — or check the official North Carolina fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Orange County
10 lakes · 7 graded, 3 not rated7 graded lakes · 3 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLake Ben JohnsonOrange | C | 3.3 ft | 50 µg/L | 6.5 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 2 | CCorporation LakeOrange | C | 2.2 ft | 50 µg/L | 11 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 3 | DWest Fk Eno R ReservoirOrange | D | 3.8 ft | 35.5 µg/L | 14.9 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 4 | DCane Creek ReservoirOrange | D | 3.6 ft | 30 µg/L | 19.5 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 5 | DWest Fork Eno River ReservoirOrange | D | 3.8 ft | 50 µg/L | 30 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 6 | FUniversity LakeOrange | F | 2.3 ft | 40 µg/L | 33.3 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 7 | FLake OrangeOrange | F | 2.9 ft | 50 µg/L | 38 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| NRUniversity LakeOrange | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NREastwood LakeOrange | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRLake MichaelOrange | 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 Orange 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.