Above Dam Lake
Albemarle County, VirginiaView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Oligotrophic
- #1 of 8 in the county
- Public access
Above Dam Lake in Albemarle County, Virginia has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 13.1 ft
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 10 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 1.6 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Above Dam Lake
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Watch Above Dam Lake’s letter
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Above Dam Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Albemarle County, Virginia. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Albemarle County, Above Dam Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Virginia DEQ, last sampled 2024-10-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Above Dam Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13.1 ft of visibility
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 13.1 ft. Phosphorus 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.6 µg/L. TSI 38. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Fishing Above Dam Lake
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 8 lakes in Albemarle County
Nearby Lakes in Albemarle County
Frequently asked questions about Above Dam Lake
Where is Above Dam Lake?
- Above Dam Lake is a lake in Albemarle County, Virginia. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Above Dam Lake?
- Above Dam Lake in Albemarle County, Virginia has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L.
Is Above Dam Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Above Dam Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Virginia's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Virginia's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
Planning a trip around Shenandoah?
Above Dam Lake is about 31 miles from Shenandoah National Park. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Shenandoah →More Virginia Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Virginia
Oligotrophic Lakes in Virginia
Where this data comes from
258 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2012–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21VASWCB258 samples · 2012–2024
Analytical methods
- Tyler, John. 1968. The secchi disk, Limnology and Oceanograpy, 13(1):1-6.
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.