Butler Reservoir
Butler Reservoir in Morris County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.1 µg/L. Surface area: 170 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.9 ft
- Area
- 170 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Butler Reservoir →
Butler Reservoir is a 170-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Morris County, New Jersey. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Morris County, Butler Reservoir ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2021-10-28. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 18.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Butler Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Butler Reservoir in Morris County, New Jersey — 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 Butler Reservoir are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Butler Reservoir
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 170 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Butler Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Butler Reservoir
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Butler Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Kakeout Dike, built primarily for water supply on the Kakeout Brook; earth-type dam, 13 ft tall and 300 ft long.
- Surface area
- 170 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,130 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Borough of Butler
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NJ00028 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.69 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Butler Reservoir 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 NJ02030103050070-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.96 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 12 lakes in Morris County
Nearby Lakes in Morris County
Frequently asked questions about Butler Reservoir
Where is Butler Reservoir?
- Butler Reservoir is a lake in Morris County, New Jersey. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Butler Reservoir?
- Butler Reservoir in Morris County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.1 µg/L. Surface area: 170 acres.
Is Butler Reservoir safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Butler Reservoir has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore Butler Reservoir across LakeGrade
More New Jersey Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in New Jersey
Eutrophic Lakes in New Jersey
Where this data comes from
43 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.
Collected and reported by
- NJDEP Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring
NJDEP_BFBM43 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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