Stafford County Lake Quality
Virginia, 11 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Stafford County has 11 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. 5 of those lakes carry an A–F grade. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. With an average grade of B, Stafford County sits comfortably above the Virginia median.
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 Smith Lake (A); the most-stressed is Curtis Lake (C).
Where to stay near Stafford County
Top-rated places to stay near Stafford County
Prices for Sep 11–13, 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 Stafford County?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Stafford County — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Quick Answers for Stafford County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Smith Lake — or check the official Virginia fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Stafford County
11 lakes · 5 graded, 6 not rated5 graded lakes · 6 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ASmith LakeStafford | A | 8.2 ft | 10 µg/L | 2.3 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 2 | AUpper LakeStafford | A | 8.7 ft | 10 µg/L | 2.3 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 3 | ANear Spillway Lake MooneyStafford | A | 9.2 ft | 10 µg/L | 1.4 µg/L | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| 4 | CCurtis LakeStafford | C | 4.3 ft | 25 µg/L | 12.1 µg/L | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| 5 | CAbel LakeStafford | C | 5.2 ft | 20 µg/L | 7.4 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| NRNear Boat Ramp LakeStafford | NR | 3.8 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public | |
| NRLunga ReservoirStafford | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRBig Lake ArrowheadStafford | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRBreckenridge ReservoirStafford | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRSmith LakeStafford | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRAbel LakeStafford | 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 Virginia
See how Stafford 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, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.