Chatuge Lake
Clay County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Chatuge Lake in Clay County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 11.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 11.6 ft
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Chatuge Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Clay County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2024-11-04. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Chatuge Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.6 ft of visibility
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Camping1 public campground nearby
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)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.6 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.3 µg/L. TSI 44. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Recreation & Access
- JackrabbitPublic
- Ledfords ChapelPublic
- Chatuge Cove MarinaSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Chatuge Lake
- Jackrabbit Mountain Campground0.9 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
Fishing Chatuge Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Chatuge Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Chatuge Dam - Saddle Dam No. 2 (completed 1942), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Hiwassee River; earth-type dam, 27 ft tall and 500 ft long.
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- TVA
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation;Hydroelectric;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC05537 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Clay County
Nearby Lakes in Clay County
Frequently asked questions about Chatuge Lake
Where is Chatuge Lake?
- Chatuge Lake is a lake in Clay 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 Chatuge Lake?
- Chatuge Lake in Clay County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 11.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L.
Is Chatuge Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Chatuge Lake?
- Chatuge Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Jackrabbit, Ledfords Chapel, Chatuge Cove Marina. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Chatuge Lake?
- Chatuge Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Jackrabbit Mountain 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 Chatuge Lake across LakeQuality
4 documented falls within 19.2 mi, nearest High Shoals Falls
4.7 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
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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 C Lakes in North Carolina
Mesotrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
56 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 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
21NC03WQ56 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- WSSSOP
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles