Canyon Ferry Lake
Broadwater County, MontanaView mapDirections
Montana DEQ publishes the water-quality measurements for Canyon Ferry Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- Public access
- Limited data
Canyon Ferry Lake in Broadwater County, Montana has water-quality measurements published by Montana DEQ, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L.
Canyon Ferry Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Broadwater County, Montana. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Broadwater County, Canyon Ferry Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Montana DEQ, last sampled 2026-06-18. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Canyon Ferry Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Camping2 public campgrounds nearby
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Canyon Ferry Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, ammonia, metals (other than mercury). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Canyon Ferry Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Canyon Ferry Lake
These are the measurements Montana DEQ publishes for Canyon Ferry Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.9 ft. Phosphorus 34 µg/L. TSI 50.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 8.9ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 34µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 50 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Canyon Ferry Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Recreation & Access
- White Earth CampgroundPublic
- Goose BayPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Canyon Ferry Lake
- White Earth Campground3.3 kmReserve
- Goose Bay Marina and Campground4.0 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Canyon Ferry Lake
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Fishing Canyon Ferry Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring (2015–2026).
Water clarity
Improving4 years
EPA Impairment Status
Canyon Ferry Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2021 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Drinking water, Aquatic life, Recreation, Other.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MT41I003_010 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Broadwater County
Frequently asked questions about Canyon Ferry Lake
Where is Canyon Ferry Lake?
- Canyon Ferry Lake is a lake in Broadwater County, Montana. Its water-quality measurements are published by Montana DEQ and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Canyon Ferry Lake?
- Canyon Ferry Lake in Broadwater County, Montana has water-quality measurements published by Montana DEQ, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L.
Is Canyon Ferry Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Canyon Ferry Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, ammonia, metals (other than mercury). Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Canyon Ferry Lake?
- Canyon Ferry Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include White Earth Campground, Goose Bay. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Canyon Ferry Lake?
- Canyon Ferry Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Montana's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Are there campgrounds on Canyon Ferry Lake?
- Canyon Ferry Lake has 2 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including White Earth Campground, Goose Bay Marina and Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Canyon Ferry Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
13.4 mi away · recorded at 74°F
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Montana's top lakes, each with its readings
Montana's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Other Lakes in Montana
Eutrophic Lakes in Montana
Where this data comes from
93 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2015–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Montana DEQ WQPB
MDEQ_WQ_WQX57 samples · 2015–2026 - USGS Montana Water Science Center
USGS-MT36 samples · 2015–2017
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles