Above Dam Lake
Pulaski County, Virginia168 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #2 of 10 in the county
Above Dam Lake in Pulaski County, Virginia has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.1 µg/L. Surface area: 167.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.2 ft
- Area
- 168 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 10 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 2.1 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Watch Above Dam Lake’s letter
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Above Dam Lake is a 168-acre mesotrophic lake in Pulaski County, Virginia. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Pulaski County, Above Dam Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Virginia DEQ, last sampled 2024-10-10. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.2 ft. Phosphorus 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.1 µg/L. TSI 40. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 168 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Above Dam Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Above Dam Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.074 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.04 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.05 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Above Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Gatewood Dam, built primarily for water supply on the Peak Creek; gravity-type dam, 57 ft tall and 408 ft long.
- Surface area
- 167.8 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,944 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,630 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 15.6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Town of Pulaski
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID VA155009 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.05 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 10 lakes in Pulaski County
Nearby Lakes in Pulaski County
Frequently asked questions about Above Dam Lake
Where is Above Dam Lake?
- Above Dam Lake is a lake in Pulaski 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 Pulaski County, Virginia has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.1 µg/L. Surface area: 167.8 acres.
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
8.8 mi away · recorded at 72°F
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Virginia's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
188 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2013–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21VASWCB188 samples · 2013–2024
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
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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.