Chatuge Lake
Clay County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
NC DEQ publishes the water-quality measurements for Chatuge Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Limited data
Chatuge Lake in Clay County, North Carolina has water-quality measurements published by NC DEQ, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L.
Chatuge Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Clay County, North Carolina. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Chatuge Lake has 3 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Chatuge Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
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 conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Chatuge Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Chatuge Lake
These are the measurements NC DEQ publishes for Chatuge Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.6 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.3 µg/L. TSI 44.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 11.6ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 30µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 2.3µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 44 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Chatuge Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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 Mountain0.4 kmReserve
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
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Chatuge Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Chatuge Lake in Clay 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Chatuge Lake
Prices for Oct 23–25, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Chatuge Lake → · more North Carolina lake trips
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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
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. Its water-quality measurements are published by NC DEQ and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Chatuge Lake?
- Chatuge Lake in Clay County, North Carolina has water-quality measurements published by NC DEQ, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L.
Is Chatuge Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are 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.
Can I fish at Chatuge Lake?
- Chatuge Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by North Carolina's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Are there campgrounds on Chatuge Lake?
- Chatuge Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Jackrabbit Mountain. 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 readings
North Carolina's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in North Carolina
Other 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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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