Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County, California is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 100 µg/L.
Why Big Bear Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Big Bear Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded phosphorus, but not water clarity and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by your state environmental agency and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Big Bear Lake is a lake in San Bernardino County, California. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2021-07-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedBacteria advisory
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Big Bear Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 100 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 71.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 100 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Big Bear Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County, California — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Big Bear Lake
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Recreation & Access
- Holloway's Marina, Inc.Semi-private
Named access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, snapped within 5 km. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Big Bear Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Big Bear Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit CAL8017100019990208151909 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in San Bernardino County
Frequently asked questions about Big Bear Lake
Where is Big Bear Lake?
- Big Bear Lake is a lake in San Bernardino County, California. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Big Bear Lake?
- Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County, California is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 100 µg/L.
Is Big Bear Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Big Bear Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Big Bear Lake?
- Big Bear Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Holloway's Marina, Inc..
Explore Big Bear Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
2 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.
Collected and reported by
- California State Water Resources Control Board
CEDEN2 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- SM 4500-P BE
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory