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LakeQuality
Late afternoon sun over Slim Lake, scattering a bright path across wind-textured water

Columbia County Lake Quality

Oregon, 17 lakes, measured by Oregon DEQ

The county-level average smooths over real differences — a single agricultural watershed near the southwest corner can pull the average down even if the rest of the county runs clean. The 17 monitored lakes in Columbia County carry whatever clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a readings Oregon DEQ has published, shown as reported.

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.

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Where to stay near Columbia County

Top-rated places to stay near Columbia County

Prices for Sep 18–20, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

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Quick Answers for Columbia County

Cleanest lakes in Columbia County →Cleanest lakes in Oregon →Best swimming lakes in Oregon →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Scout Lake — or check the official Oregon fishing regulations.

All Lakes in Columbia County

17 lakes · 0 ranked on readings, 17 without enough sampling0 lakes ranked on readings · 17 without enough sampling, hidden

#LakeClarityPhosphorusAlgaeTrophicAccess
Scout LakeColumbiaNo recent samples45 µg/LNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Resting LakeColumbiaNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Swan LakeColumbiaNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Deer Island SloughColumbiaNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Racetrack LakeColumbiaNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Malarky LakeColumbiaNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Sturgeon LakeColumbiaNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples✓ Public
Steelman LakeColumbiaNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Scappoose BayColumbiaNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples✓ Public
Cunningham LakeColumbiaNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Crane LakeColumbiaNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Seal LakeColumbiaNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Aarons LakeColumbiaNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
McNary LakeColumbiaNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Henrici LakeColumbiaNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Millionaire LakeColumbiaNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Vernonia LakeColumbiaNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples✓ Public

NR = no nutrient or algae reading on record. The measurements are published as the authority reports them. Where the data comes from.

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Other Counties in Oregon

Wallowa County

13 lakes

Clackamas County

10 lakes

Washington County

3 lakes

Marion County

14 lakes

Linn County

22 lakes

Lane County

41 lakes

Browse every Oregon lake, or the full directory of lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..

Source: the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. See data sources.