Catawba Riv Lake
Mecklenburg County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #2 of 2 in the county
- Public access
Catawba Riv Lake in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 6.6 ft
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Catawba Riv Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Mecklenburg County, Catawba Riv Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2024-02-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Catawba Riv Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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. Catawba Riv Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 6.6 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.3 µg/L. TSI 45. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Recreation & Access
- Mt Holly Boat LandingPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Catawba Riv Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.25 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -10 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.95 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Catawba Riv 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-(117) · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.45 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Mecklenburg County
Nearby Lakes in Mecklenburg County
Frequently asked questions about Catawba Riv Lake
Where is Catawba Riv Lake?
- Catawba Riv Lake is a lake in Mecklenburg 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 Catawba Riv Lake?
- Catawba Riv Lake in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L.
Is Catawba Riv Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Catawba Riv Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Catawba Riv Lake?
- Catawba Riv Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Mt Holly Boat Landing. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Catawba Riv Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Top 25 by Secchi water clarity
Grade A/B + low algae filter
Panfish-rich, public access
Full state directory
Other Grade C Lakes in North Carolina
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Where this data comes from
89 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ89 samples · 2020–2024
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