Catawba Creek Lake
Gaston County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #4 of 5 in the county
- Public access
Catawba Creek Lake in Gaston County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.6 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Catawba Creek Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Catawba Creek Lake in Gaston 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 Catawba Creek Lake are listed below.
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Catawba Creek Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Gaston County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Gaston County, Catawba Creek Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2022-12-19. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Catawba Creek Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Catawba Creek Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Phosphorus 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 18.5 µg/L. TSI 58. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 35 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Recreation & Access
- Copperhead Island Boat LaunchPublic
- Nivens CreekPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Catawba Creek Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 14 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.103 m/yr | 12 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.7 µg/L/yr | 11 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.48 µg/L/yr | 13 |
EPA Impairment Status
Catawba Creek Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NC11-130c · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 5 lakes in Gaston County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Catawba Creek Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Gaston County
Frequently asked questions about Catawba Creek Lake
Where is Catawba Creek Lake?
- Catawba Creek Lake is a lake in Gaston County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Catawba Creek Lake?
- Catawba Creek Lake in Gaston County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18.5 µg/L.
Is Catawba Creek Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Catawba Creek Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown). Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Catawba Creek Lake?
- Catawba Creek Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Copperhead Island Boat Launch, Nivens Creek. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Catawba Creek Lake across LakeQuality
17.1 mi away · cable-pulled, no boat wake
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
North Carolina's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More North Carolina Lake Rankings
Ranked by overall water quality grade
Top 25 by Secchi water clarity
Grade A/B + low algae filter
Panfish-rich, public access
Full state directory
Other Grade D Lakes in North Carolina
Eutrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
67 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ67 samples · 2020–2022
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.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory