Cold Springs Reservoir
Umatilla County, Oregon1,550 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #3 of 3 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Cold Springs Reservoir in Umatilla County, Oregon has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 126 µg/L. Surface area: 1550 acres.
- Area
- 1,550 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Chlorophyll-a
- 126 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Cold Springs Reservoir’s letter
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Cold Springs Reservoir is a 1,550-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Umatilla County, Oregon. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Umatilla County, Cold Springs Reservoir ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Oregon DEQ, last sampled 2025-09-03. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Cold Springs Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Big water1,550 acres
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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Cold Springs Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
No clarity data. Chlorophyll-a 126 µg/L. TSI 78. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 126 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 78 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1,550 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Cold Springs Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Cold Springs National Wildlife RefugePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Cold Springs Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.167 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +32.25 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +18.96 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Cold Springs Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Cold Springs Dam (completed 1908), built primarily for irrigation on the Umatilla River; earth-type dam, 115 ft tall and 3,450 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,550 ac
- Max storage
- 38,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 200.51 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID OR00590 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Cold Springs Reservoir 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 OR_LK_1707010312_02_100011 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Umatilla County
Nearby Lakes in Umatilla County
Frequently asked questions about Cold Springs Reservoir
Where is Cold Springs Reservoir?
- Cold Springs Reservoir is a lake in Umatilla County, Oregon. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Cold Springs Reservoir?
- Cold Springs Reservoir in Umatilla County, Oregon has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 126 µg/L. Surface area: 1550 acres.
Is Cold Springs Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Cold Springs Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Cold Springs Reservoir?
- Cold Springs Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cold Springs National Wildlife Refuge. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Cold Springs Reservoir across LakeQuality
21.5 mi away · recorded at 72°F
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Oregon's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
7 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Department of Environmental Quality - State of Oregon
OREGONDEQ7 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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