Richland County Lake Quality
Ohio, 2 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
Richland County has 2 graded 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. On average, Richland County lakes grade D, with phosphorus loading and reduced clarity showing up across most of the dataset.
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 Sites Lake (D); the most-stressed is Pleasant Hill Reservoir (F).
Quick Answers for Richland County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Sites Lake — or check the official Ohio fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Richland County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sites Lake | D | 5.2 ft | - |
| 2 | Pleasant Hill Reservoir | F | 3 ft | - |
Other Counties in Ohio
See how Richland County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 15 states.
Where to stay near Richland County
Top-rated places to stay near Richland County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.