Corporation Lake
Orange County, North Carolina5 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #2 of 7 in the county
Corporation Lake in Orange County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11 µg/L. Surface area: 5 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.2 ft
- Area
- 5 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Watch Corporation Lake’s letter
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Corporation Lake is a 5-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Orange County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Orange County, Corporation Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2025-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 2.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 11 µg/L. TSI 60. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 50 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Corporation Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Corporation Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.12 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Corporation Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Orange-Alamance Lake Dam (completed 1968), built primarily for other on the Eno River; concrete-type dam, 20 ft tall and 100 ft long.
- Surface area
- 5 ac
- Normal storage
- 168 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 205 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 41.2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Orange-Alamance Water System, Inc.
All listed purposes: Other;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC00775 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 7 lakes in Orange County
Nearby Lakes in Orange County
Frequently asked questions about Corporation Lake
Where is Corporation Lake?
- Corporation Lake is a lake in Orange 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 Corporation Lake?
- Corporation Lake in Orange County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11 µg/L. Surface area: 5 acres.
Is Corporation Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Corporation Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
78 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ78 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- WSSSOP
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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.