Big East Lake
Utah County, UtahView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #9 of 19 in the county
- Limited data
Big East Lake in Utah County, Utah has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 7.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 44 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 7.7 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 44 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 9 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Big East Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big East Lake in Utah County, Utah — 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Big East Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Big East Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Watch Big East Lake’s letter
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Big East Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Utah County, Utah. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Utah County, Big East Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Utah DWQ, last sampled 2024-09-04. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Big East Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Camping2 public campgrounds nearby
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Big East Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), pH / acidity, temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.7 ft. Phosphorus 44 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 9 µg/L. TSI 53. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 44 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Big East Lake
- Payson Lakes0.5 km
- Blackhawk4.3 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 Big East Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.026 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.44 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Big East Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Big East (completed 1898), built primarily for irrigation on the Wimmer Ranch Creek-Offstream; earth-type dam, 29 ft tall and 475 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 414 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 980 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- PAYSON CITY CORPORATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID UT00034 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Big East 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 UT-L-16020202-002_00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 19 lakes in Utah County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Big East Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Utah County
Frequently asked questions about Big East Lake
Where is Big East Lake?
- Big East Lake is a lake in Utah County, Utah. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Big East Lake?
- Big East Lake in Utah County, Utah has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 7.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 44 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9 µg/L.
Is Big East Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Big East Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), pH / acidity, temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there campgrounds on Big East Lake?
- Big East Lake has 2 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Payson Lakes, Blackhawk. 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 Big East Lake across LakeQuality
3 thermal springs within 16.4 mi, nearest Castilla Springs
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Utah's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Utah's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Utah Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Utah
Eutrophic Lakes in Utah
Where this data comes from
52 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Utah Department Of Environmental Quality
UTAHDWQ_WQX52 samples · 2012–2024
Analytical methods
- Field Measurements
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles