Billy Shaw Lake
Elko County, Nevada430 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #7 of 9 in the county
Billy Shaw Lake in Elko County, Nevada has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 15 µg/L. Surface area: 430 acres.
- Area
- 430 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 34 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 15 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Stays near Billy Shaw Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Billy Shaw Lake in Elko County, Nevada — 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 Billy Shaw Lake are listed below.
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Watch Billy Shaw Lake’s letter
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Billy Shaw Lake is a 430-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Elko County, Nevada. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Elko County, Billy Shaw Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDEP, last sampled 2023-09-21. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 15 µg/L. TSI 56. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 34 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 15 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 430 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Billy Shaw Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Billy Shaw Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 9 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.08 µg/L/yr | 9 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.26 µg/L/yr | 8 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Billy Shaw Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Billy Shaw (completed 2002), built primarily for recreation on the Billy Shaw Slough; earth-type dam, 51 ft tall and 3,000 ft long.
- Surface area
- 430 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,300 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 5,200 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- BIA
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NV10644 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 9 lakes in Elko County
Nearby Lakes in Elko County
Frequently asked questions about Billy Shaw Lake
Where is Billy Shaw Lake?
- Billy Shaw Lake is a lake in Elko County, Nevada. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Billy Shaw Lake?
- Billy Shaw Lake in Elko County, Nevada has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 15 µg/L. Surface area: 430 acres.
Is Billy Shaw Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Billy Shaw Lake across LakeQuality
More Nevada Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Nevada
Eutrophic Lakes in Nevada
Where this data comes from
102 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2012–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Bureau of Reclamation
1119USBR_WQX101 samples · 2012–2023 - Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, Nevada (Tribal)
SHOPAITR_WQX1 sample · 2013
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Single Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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.