Bessemer City Lake
Gaston County, North Carolina25 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #3 of 5 in the county
- Limited data
Bessemer City Lake in Gaston County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.1 µg/L. Surface area: 25 acres.
- Area
- 25 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
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Watch Bessemer City Lake’s letter
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Bessemer City Lake is a 25-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Gaston County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Gaston County, Bessemer City Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2022-09-13. 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. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 7.1 µg/L. TSI 49. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Bessemer City Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Bessemer City Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Bessemer City Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Arrowood Lake Dam (completed 1955), built primarily for water supply on the Long Creek; earth-type dam, 44 ft tall and 528 ft long.
- Surface area
- 25 ac
- Normal storage
- 259 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 440 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.89 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Town of Bessemer City
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC01205 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.07 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 5 lakes in Gaston County
Nearby Lakes in Gaston County
Frequently asked questions about Bessemer City Lake
Where is Bessemer City Lake?
- Bessemer City Lake is a lake in Gaston 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 Bessemer City Lake?
- Bessemer City Lake in Gaston County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.1 µg/L. Surface area: 25 acres.
Is Bessemer City Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Bessemer City Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
13 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 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
21NC03WQ13 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
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.