Buckeye Lake
Watauga County, North Carolina7 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 3 in the county
- Limited data
Buckeye Lake in Watauga County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.9 µg/L. Surface area: 6.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Area
- 7 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Buckeye Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Buckeye Lake in Watauga County, North Carolina — 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 Buckeye Lake
Prices for Sep 4–6, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at North Carolina’s top lakes →
Watch Buckeye Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Buckeye Lake is a 7-acre mesotrophic lake in Watauga County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Watauga County, Buckeye Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2023-09-11. 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.9 µg/L. TSI 48. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Buckeye Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Buckeye Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Buckeye Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Beech Mountain Water Supply Dam (completed 1987), built primarily for water supply on the Buckeye Creek; earth-type dam, 68 ft tall and 293 ft long.
- Surface area
- 6.5 ac
- Normal storage
- 120 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 200 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.33 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Town of Beech Mountain
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC04661 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Watauga County
Nearby Lakes in Watauga County
Frequently asked questions about Buckeye Lake
Where is Buckeye Lake?
- Buckeye Lake is a lake in Watauga 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 Buckeye Lake?
- Buckeye Lake in Watauga County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.9 µg/L. Surface area: 6.5 acres.
Is Buckeye Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Buckeye Lake across LakeQuality
2 documented falls within 18.7 mi, nearest Elk River Falls
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
North Carolina's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More North Carolina Lake Rankings
Ranked by overall water quality grade
Top 25 by Secchi water clarity
Grade A/B + low algae filter
Panfish-rich, public access
Full state directory
Other Grade C Lakes in North Carolina
Mesotrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ20 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- WSSSOP
- 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.