York County Lake Quality
South Carolina, 1 lake, average grade D (Nutrient-rich)
York County has 1 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, York County lakes grade D, with phosphorus loading and reduced clarity showing up across most of the dataset.
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 Wylie (D) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for York County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Lake Wylie — or check the official South Carolina fishing regulations.
All Lakes in York County
1 lake1 graded lake
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DLake WylieYork | D | No recent samples | 30 µg/L | 17 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
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 South Carolina
See how York County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 39 states and 2 Canadian provinces.
Where to stay near York County
Top-rated places to stay near York County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.