Allen Creek Reservoir
Haywood County, North Carolina76 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 3 in the county
- 13 ft max depth
- Limited data
Allen Creek Reservoir in Haywood County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.8 µg/L. Surface area: 76.4 acres.
- Max depth
- ~13 ft est.
- Area
- 76 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
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Watch Allen Creek Reservoir’s letter
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Allen Creek Reservoir is a 76-acre mesotrophic lake in Haywood County, North Carolina with an estimated average depth of about 13 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Haywood County, Allen Creek Reservoir ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2022-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Chlorophyll-a 6.8 µg/L. TSI 49. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.8 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~13 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 76 acres |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. North Carolina has not published bathymetry for Allen Creek Reservoir.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Allen Creek Reservoir
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Allen Creek Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Waynesville Water Supply Dam (completed 1982), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Allen Creek; earth-type dam, 142 ft tall and 870 ft long.
- Surface area
- 76.4 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,660 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 13 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Town of Waynesville
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC01270 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.36 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Haywood County
Nearby Lakes in Haywood County
Frequently asked questions about Allen Creek Reservoir
Where is Allen Creek Reservoir?
- Allen Creek Reservoir is a lake in Haywood County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Allen Creek Reservoir?
- Allen Creek Reservoir in Haywood County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.8 µg/L. Surface area: 76.4 acres.
Is Allen Creek Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Allen Creek Reservoir?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Allen Creek Reservoir, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 13 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 76.4 acres.
Explore Allen Creek Reservoir across LakeQuality
4 documented falls within 13.8 mi, nearest Soco Falls
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
North Carolina's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
Planning a trip around Great Smoky Mountains?
Allen Creek Reservoir is about 31 miles from Great Smoky Mountains 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 Great Smoky Mountains →More North Carolina Lake Rankings
Ranked by overall water quality grade
Top 25 by Secchi water clarity
Grade A/B + low algae filter
Panfish-rich, public access
Full state directory
Other Grade C Lakes in North Carolina
Mesotrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ20 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- 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.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)