Apache Lake
Maricopa County, ArizonaView mapDirections
No nutrient or algae sampling on record from ADEQ for this lake.
- Impaired · Mercury
- Public access
- Limited data
Ask about Apache Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Apache Lake in Maricopa County, Arizona has water-quality measurements published by ADEQ, shown here as reported.
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Apache Lake is a lake in Maricopa County, Arizona. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2026-04-08. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Apache Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Camping5 public campgrounds nearby
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Apache Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Apache Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Apache Lake
These are the measurements ADEQ publishes for Apache Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data.
| Metric | Value | EPA condition class |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples |
Recreation & Access
- Apache Lake - 1Public
- Apache Lake - 3Public
- Apache Lake - 2Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Apache Lake
- Apache Lake North Shore Boat Cg3.4 km
- Apache Lake North Shore Boat Cg3.4 km
- Lower Burnt Corral4.0 km
- Burnt Corral Campground4.0 km
- Upper Burnt Corral4.8 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Apache Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.43 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +80 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Apache Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit AZL15060106A-0070_00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Maricopa County
Frequently asked questions about Apache Lake
Where is Apache Lake?
- Apache Lake is a lake in Maricopa County, Arizona. Its water-quality measurements are published by ADEQ and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Apache Lake?
- Apache Lake in Maricopa County, Arizona has water-quality measurements published by ADEQ, shown here as reported.
Is Apache Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Apache Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Apache Lake?
- Apache Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Apache Lake - 1, Apache Lake - 3, Apache Lake - 2. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Apache Lake?
- Apache Lake has 5 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Apache Lake North Shore Boat Cg, Apache Lake North Shore Boat Cg, Lower Burnt Corral, Burnt Corral Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Apache Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
23 mi away · 200 ft
6.2 mi away · recorded at 118°F
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Arizona's top lakes, each with its readings
Arizona's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Other Lakes in Arizona
Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Great Lakes Environmental Center
GLEC3 samples · 2026
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 300.0 ~ EPA; Determination of Inorganic Anions by Ion Chromatography
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles