Dam Lake
Pulaski County, Virginia12 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Pathogens (E. coli, fecal)
- #4 of 10 in the county
- Public access
Dam Lake in Pulaski County, Virginia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.4 µg/L. Surface area: 11.59 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.5 ft
- Area
- 12 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 6.4 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Dam Lake’s letter
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Dam Lake is a 12-acre mesotrophic lake in Pulaski County, Virginia. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Pulaski County, Dam Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Virginia DEQ, last sampled 2026-07-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria advisory
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. Dam Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.5 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.4 µg/L. TSI 47. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Dam Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Dam Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 15 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.022 m/yr | 15 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.55 µg/L/yr | 15 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.26 µg/L/yr | 15 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Claytor Lake Quarry, built primarily for other, 163 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 11.59 ac
- Max storage
- 813.8 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.04 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Undetermined
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID VA155008 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.2 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Dam Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit VAW-N21L_LRV01A02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.38 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 10 lakes in Pulaski County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Dam Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Pulaski County
Frequently asked questions about Dam Lake
Where is Dam Lake?
- Dam Lake is a lake in Pulaski County, Virginia. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Dam Lake?
- Dam Lake in Pulaski County, Virginia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.4 µg/L. Surface area: 11.59 acres.
Is Dam Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Dam Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Dam Lake across LakeQuality
20.2 mi away · 69 ft
14.9 mi away · recorded at 85°F
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Virginia's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
767 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2012–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21VASWCB767 samples · 2012–2026
Analytical methods
- Tyler, John. 1968. The secchi disk, Limnology and Oceanograpy, 13(1):1-6.
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 446.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophylls and Pheopigments in Phytoplankton by Spectrophotometry
- 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.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database