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F
Morrow County, Ohio

Clear Fork Reservoir

Grade FVery Poor · 3.1 ft clarity

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Limited DataEutrophic

Clear Fork Reservoir is a 1,024-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Morrow County, Ohio. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Ohio DNR, last sampled 2021-10-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Clear Fork Reservoir Water Quality Report Card (2026)

A printable one-page report card for Clear Fork Reservoir: grade, clarity, phosphorus, algae, multi-year trend, depth, and fish — with sources.

Swimming Safety

Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins

Compare the safest swimming lakes near Columbus

Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor

Very murky, less than 3.1 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 61.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)3.1 ftF
PhosphorusNo data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)61Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Surface Area1,024 acres
Public AccessYes

Where to stay near Clear Fork Reservoir

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Clear Fork Reservoir in Morrow County, Ohio — 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.

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Fishing Clear Fork Reservoir

Recreation & Access

1
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access

Current Conditions

1201.26 ft
Water Elevation

Latest reading Oct 1, 2020, 4:45 AM from USGS gauge 03131898. See live data ↗ — readings update every 15–60 minutes; this page refreshes on each build.

Location & Depth Map

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Free interactive depth-contour map of Clear Fork Reservoir, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 24 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Ohio DNR.

County Ranking

Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Morrow County

Nearby Lakes in Morrow County

More records, surveys & data sources

Reservoir Info (USACE NID)

Clear Fork Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Clear Fork Reservoir Dam (completed 1949), built primarily for water supply on the CLEAR FORK MOHICAN RIVER; earth-type dam, 44 ft tall and 3,420 ft long.

Surface area
1,024 ac
Normal storage
10,922 ac-ft
Max storage
26,532 ac-ft
Drainage area
34.67 sq mi
Hazard class
High
Owner
City of Mansfield

All listed purposes: Water Supply;Recreation.

Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID OH00778 · Operator website

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area
32 sq mi
Mean depth (est.)
28.5 ft
Shoreline
8.9 mi
Elevation
1,204 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.

Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby

10 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Clear Fork Reservoir under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 6 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.

  • Village Of Lexington Wwtp
    Lexington · 3.5 mi away · NPDES OH0020257
    MajorRecent violation
  • Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
    Lexington · 1.1 mi away · NPDES OH0136565
    Recent violation
  • Mansfield Wtp
    Mansfield · 2.4 mi away · NPDES OH0003867
    Recent violation
  • Hamilton Standard Controls United Technologies
    Lexington · 2.8 mi away · NPDES OH0095281
    Recent violation
  • Cole Tooling & Stamping
    Ontario · 4.3 mi away · NPDES OH0138797
    Recent violation
  • Cedar Creek Mhp Llc
    Lexington · 4.8 mi away · NPDES OH0138509
    Recent violation

Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)

Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory

Most recent sample: 2021-10-14

Monitoring stations: 4

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