Carthage City Lake
Moore County, North Carolina9 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #3 of 3 in the county
- Limited data
Carthage City Lake in Moore County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 15.5 µg/L. Surface area: 9 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.9 ft
- Area
- 9 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
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Carthage City Lake is a 9-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Moore County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Moore County, Carthage City Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2023-09-14. 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)
Murky, only visible to about 4.9 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 15.5 µg/L. TSI 55. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 15.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Carthage City Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Carthage City Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Carthage City Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Carthage Pond Dam #1 (completed 1945), built primarily for water supply on the Killett's Creek; earth-type dam, 20 ft tall and 550 ft long.
- Surface area
- 9 ac
- Normal storage
- 58 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 72 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.04 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Town of Carthage
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC03547 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.11 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Moore County
Nearby Lakes in Moore County
Frequently asked questions about Carthage City Lake
Where is Carthage City Lake?
- Carthage City Lake is a lake in Moore 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 Carthage City Lake?
- Carthage City Lake in Moore County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 15.5 µg/L. Surface area: 9 acres.
Is Carthage City Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Carthage City Lake across LakeQuality
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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.