Falls of the Neuse Reservoir
Wake County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- #4 of 14 in the county
- Public access
Falls of the Neuse Reservoir in Wake County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 36 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.2 ft
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Falls of the Neuse Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Falls of the Neuse Reservoir in Wake County, North Carolina — 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 Falls of the Neuse Reservoir are listed below.
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Falls of the Neuse Reservoir is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Wake County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Wake County, Falls of the Neuse Reservoir ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2025-12-17. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Falls of the Neuse Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4B) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 36 µg/L. TSI 63. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 40 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 36 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Fishing Falls of the Neuse Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.1 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.43 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.43 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Falls of the Neuse Reservoir is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4B).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NC27-(5.5)b4b1 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.68 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 14 lakes in Wake County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Falls of the Neuse Reservoir holds Grade F. 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 Wake County
Frequently asked questions about Falls of the Neuse Reservoir
Where is Falls of the Neuse Reservoir?
- Falls of the Neuse Reservoir is a lake in Wake County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Falls of the Neuse Reservoir?
- Falls of the Neuse Reservoir in Wake County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 36 µg/L.
Is Falls of the Neuse Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Falls of the Neuse Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4B) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Falls of the Neuse Reservoir across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Ranked by overall water quality grade
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Grade A/B + low algae filter
Panfish-rich, public access
Full state directory
Other Grade F Lakes in North Carolina
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Where this data comes from
2,651 measurements from 11 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
21NC03WQ2,651 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 (11)
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