Davis Lake
Deschutes County, OregonView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Oxygen depletion (low DO)
- #11 of 12 in the county
- 87 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Davis Lake in Deschutes County, Oregon has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 65 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.6 µg/L.
- Max depth
- ~87 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 65 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 7.6 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Davis Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Davis Lake in Deschutes County, Oregon — 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Davis Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Davis Lake
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Davis Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Deschutes County, Oregon with an estimated average depth of about 87 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2020. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Deschutes County, Davis Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Oregon DEQ, last sampled 2020-10-22. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Davis Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Camping2 public campgrounds nearby
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Davis Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO), pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 65 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 7.6 µg/L. TSI 57. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 65 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~87 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~35 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Oregon has not published bathymetry for Davis Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Lava Flow CampgroundPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Davis Lake
- North Lava Flow0.5 km
- East Davis Lake4.5 km
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
Fishing Davis Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Davis Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit OR_LK_1707030102_05_100064 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 12 lakes in Deschutes County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Davis Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Deschutes County
Frequently asked questions about Davis Lake
Where is Davis Lake?
- Davis Lake is a lake in Deschutes County, Oregon. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Davis Lake?
- Davis Lake in Deschutes County, Oregon has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 65 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.6 µg/L.
Is Davis Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Davis Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO), pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Davis Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Davis Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 87 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Davis Lake?
- Davis Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lava Flow Campground. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Davis Lake?
- Davis Lake has 2 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including North Lava Flow, East Davis Lake. 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 Davis Lake across LakeQuality
More Oregon Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Oregon
Douglas County · Nutrient-rich
Jefferson County · Nutrient-rich
Jefferson County · Nutrient-rich
Jefferson County · 4.6 ft
Jefferson County · Nutrient-rich
Jefferson County · 5.6 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Oregon
Where this data comes from
30 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Department of Environmental Quality - State of Oregon
OREGONDEQ30 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles