Donner Lake
Donner Lake in Nevada County, California is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Surface area: 834 acres.
- Area
- 834 acres
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Donner Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Donner Lake, no water-quality sampling on record for this lake.
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by your state environmental agency and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Donner Lake is a 834-acre lake in Nevada County, California. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled recent years. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Donner Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedElevated nutrients
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Donner Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Trophic State Index: undefined.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) |
Where to stay near Donner Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Donner Lake in Nevada County, California — 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Donner Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 834 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Donner Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Donner LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Donner Lake
Nearby Lakes in Nevada County
Frequently asked questions about Donner Lake
Where is Donner Lake?
- Donner Lake is a lake in Nevada County, California. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no water-quality sampling on record for this lake.
What is the water quality grade for Donner Lake?
- Donner Lake in Nevada County, California is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Surface area: 834 acres.
Is Donner Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Donner Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Donner Lake?
- Donner Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Donner Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Donner Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
Measurements for Donner Lake come from the EPA Water Quality Portal. Per-sample source details are not recorded for this lake.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory