Emigrant Lake
Jackson County, Oregon806 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #4 of 7 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Emigrant Lake in Jackson County, Oregon has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L. Surface area: 806 acres.
- Area
- 806 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Chlorophyll-a
- 3.3 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Emigrant Lake’s letter
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Emigrant Lake is a 806-acre mesotrophic lake in Jackson County, Oregon. Water quality is graded C 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 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Emigrant Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Oregon DEQ, last sampled 2025-10-02. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Emigrant Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Emigrant Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Chlorophyll-a 3.3 µg/L. TSI 42. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 806 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Emigrant Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Patrick DunnPublic
- Emigrant Lake WestPublic
- Emigrant Lake NorthPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Emigrant Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.13 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Emigrant Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Emigrant Spillway Dike (completed 1960), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Emigrant Creek; earth-type dam, 14 ft tall and 220 ft long.
- Surface area
- 806 ac
- Normal storage
- 39,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 46,700 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 62 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Irrigation;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID OR00581 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Emigrant Lake 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_1710030801_02_100257 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 7 lakes in Jackson County
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Frequently asked questions about Emigrant Lake
Where is Emigrant Lake?
- Emigrant Lake is a lake in Jackson County, Oregon. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Emigrant Lake?
- Emigrant Lake in Jackson County, Oregon has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L. Surface area: 806 acres.
Is Emigrant Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Emigrant Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Emigrant Lake?
- Emigrant Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Patrick Dunn, Emigrant Lake West, Emigrant Lake North. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Emigrant Lake across LakeQuality
3 thermal springs within 24.8 mi, nearest Jackson Hot Springs
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Oregon's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade C Lakes in Oregon
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Where this data comes from
8 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
OREGONDEQ8 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