Fish Lake
Jackson County, Oregon415 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #6 of 7 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Fish Lake in Jackson County, Oregon has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.8 µg/L. Surface area: 415 acres.
- Area
- 415 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Chlorophyll-a
- 7.8 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Fish Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fish Lake in Jackson 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 Fish Lake are listed below.
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Watch Fish Lake’s letter
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Fish Lake is a 415-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Jackson County, Oregon. Water quality is graded D 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 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Fish Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Oregon DEQ, last sampled 2025-10-01. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Fish Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Camping1 public campground 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. Fish Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Chlorophyll-a 7.8 µg/L. TSI 51. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 415 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Fish Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Fish Lake Recreation AreaPublic
- Fish Lake ResortSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Fish Lake
- Fish Lake Campground0.4 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 Fish Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +3.7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Fish Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Fish Lake Dam (completed 1908), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Little Butte Creek; rockfill-type dam, 50 ft tall and 960 ft long.
- Surface area
- 415 ac
- Normal storage
- 7,897 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 9,397 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 15.93 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MEDFORD IRRIGATION DISTRICT;ROGUE RIVER VALLEY IRRIGATION DISTRICT
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Irrigation;Recreation;Hydroelectric.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID OR00021 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Fish 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_1710030708_02_100251 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 7 lakes in Jackson County
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Frequently asked questions about Fish Lake
Where is Fish Lake?
- Fish Lake is a lake in Jackson County, Oregon. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Fish Lake?
- Fish Lake in Jackson County, Oregon has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.8 µg/L. Surface area: 415 acres.
Is Fish Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Fish Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Fish Lake?
- Fish Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fish Lake Recreation Area, Fish Lake Resort. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Fish Lake?
- Fish Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Fish Lake Campground. 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 Fish Lake across LakeQuality
Planning a trip around Crater Lake?
Fish Lake is about 39 miles from Crater Lake National Park. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Crater Lake →More Oregon Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Oregon
Eutrophic Lakes in Oregon
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles