Harris County Lake Quality
Texas, 5 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
Harris County has 5 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, Harris 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 Lynchburg Reservoir (C); the most-stressed is L Houston W of Lake Shadows (F).
Quick Answers for Harris County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Lynchburg Reservoir — or check the official Texas fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Harris County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lynchburg Reservoir | C | 1.1 ft | 98.5 µg/L |
| 2 | Lake Houston S Union Pacific Rr Bridge | D | 1.3 ft | 210.5 µg/L |
| 3 | Lake Houston | D | 1.6 ft | 182 µg/L |
| 4 | Lake Houston | D | 0.6 ft | 780 µg/L |
| 5 | L Houston W of Lake Shadows | F | 1.5 ft | 180 µg/L |
Other Counties in Texas
See how Harris County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 17 states.
Where to stay near Harris County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.