Buckhorn Reservoir
Wilson County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- #3 of 4 in the county
- 38 ft max depth
Buckhorn Reservoir in Wilson County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Max depth
- ~38 ft est.
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Buckhorn Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Buckhorn Reservoir in Wilson 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 Reservoir are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Buckhorn Reservoir
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Watch Buckhorn Reservoir’s letter
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Buckhorn Reservoir is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Wilson County, North Carolina with an estimated average depth of about 38 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Wilson County, Buckhorn Reservoir ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2025-09-04. 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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 31 µg/L. TSI 63. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 50 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 31 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~38 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~20 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. North Carolina has not published bathymetry for Buckhorn Reservoir.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Buckhorn Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.6 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Buckhorn Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Buckhorn Lake Dam, built primarily for water supply on the Contentnea Creek; earth-type dam, 20 ft tall and 600 ft long.
- Drainage area
- 160 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- City of Wilson
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC01379 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Wilson County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Buckhorn Reservoir holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Wilson County
Frequently asked questions about Buckhorn Reservoir
Where is Buckhorn Reservoir?
- Buckhorn Reservoir is a lake in Wilson 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 Reservoir?
- Buckhorn Reservoir in Wilson County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31 µg/L.
Is Buckhorn Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Buckhorn Reservoir?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Buckhorn Reservoir, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 38 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Explore Buckhorn Reservoir 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
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Where this data comes from
73 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ73 samples · 2020–2025
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)