Buck Creek Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Clark County, Ohio. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Clark County, Buck Creek Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Ohio DNR, last sampled 2021-10-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 44.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 35.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 44.5 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 35.7 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Buck Creek Lake
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Fishing Buck Creek Lake
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Clark County
Nearby Lakes in Clark County
Explore Buck Creek Lake across LakeGrade
More Ohio Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Ohio
Eutrophic Lakes in Ohio
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Buck Creek Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit OH050800011705 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.89 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Buck Creek Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Catawba SdCatawba · 4.7 mi away · NPDES OH0093165Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2021-10-18
Monitoring stations: 1