Buckhorn Dam Lake
Chatham County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- #4 of 7 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Buckhorn Dam Lake in Chatham County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 100 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Buckhorn Dam Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Buckhorn Dam Lake in Chatham 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Buckhorn Dam Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Buckhorn Dam 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 Buckhorn Dam Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Buckhorn Dam Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Chatham County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Chatham County, Buckhorn Dam Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2023-09-05. 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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Buckhorn Dam Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 100 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 31 µg/L. TSI 67. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 100 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 31 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Fishing Buckhorn Dam Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Buckhorn Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Buckhorn Lake Dam (completed 1915), built primarily for other on the Cape Fear River; earth-type dam, 31 ft tall and 1,550 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 1,760 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3,200 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Duke Energy Corporation
All listed purposes: Other;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC00752 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Buckhorn Dam Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NC18-(5.5)a · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.14 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 7 lakes in Chatham County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Buckhorn Dam Lake holds Grade F. 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 Chatham County
Frequently asked questions about Buckhorn Dam Lake
Where is Buckhorn Dam Lake?
- Buckhorn Dam Lake is a lake in Chatham County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Buckhorn Dam Lake?
- Buckhorn Dam Lake in Chatham County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 100 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31 µg/L.
Is Buckhorn Dam Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Buckhorn Dam Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Buckhorn Dam Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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 F Lakes in North Carolina
Hypereutrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
48 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 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
21NC03WQ48 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 (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