
York County Lake Quality
Virginia, 10 lakes, average grade B (Good)
York County has 10 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. 3 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, York County sits comfortably above the Virginia median.
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. Sta Lake (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Where to stay near York County
Top-rated places to stay near York 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 York County?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near York County — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Quick Answers for York County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Sta Lake — or check the official Virginia fishing regulations.
All Lakes in York County
10 lakes · 3 graded, 7 not rated3 graded lakes · 7 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ASta LakeYork | A | 6.9 ft | 20 µg/L | 4.1 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 2 | BWaller Mill Reserv Sta LakeYork | B | 3.9 ft | 30 µg/L | 11.1 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 3 | CStation LakeYork | C | 3.9 ft | 30 µg/L | 14 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| NRCheatham PondYork | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRQueens LakeYork | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRJones MillpondYork | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRPenniman LakeYork | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRBig Bethel ReservoirYork | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRBigler MillpondYork | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRBeaverdam PondYork | 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 York 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.