Cataract Lake
Coconino County, Arizona46 acresView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- Public access
- Limited data
Cataract Lake in Coconino County, Arizona is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 260 µg/L. Surface area: 46 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.6 ft
- Area
- 46 acres
- Phosphorus
- 260 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Cataract Lake’s letter
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Why Cataract Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Cataract Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity and phosphorus, but not algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by ADEQ and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Cataract Lake is a 46-acre lake in Coconino County, Arizona. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2025-10-29. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Cataract Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Cataract Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 4.6 ft. Phosphorus 260 µg/L. TSI 70.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 260 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 70 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 46 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Cataract Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Cataract LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Cataract Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.055 m/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Cataract Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the West Cataract Creek (completed 1947), built primarily for recreation on the West Cataract Creek; earth-type dam, 36 ft tall and 580 ft long.
- Surface area
- 46 ac
- Normal storage
- 415 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 860 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6.2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- CITY OF WILLIAMS
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AZ00038 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.23 km)
Nearby Lakes in Coconino County
Frequently asked questions about Cataract Lake
Where is Cataract Lake?
- Cataract Lake is a lake in Coconino County, Arizona. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
What is the water quality grade for Cataract Lake?
- Cataract Lake in Coconino County, Arizona is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 260 µg/L. Surface area: 46 acres.
Is Cataract Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Cataract Lake?
- Cataract Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cataract Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
13 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Great Lakes Environmental Center
GLEC13 samples · 2022–2025
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 300.0 ~ EPA; Determination of Inorganic Anions by Ion Chromatography
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.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory