Fontana Lake
Swain County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
NC DEQ publishes the water-quality measurements for Fontana Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Limited data
Fontana Lake in Swain County, North Carolina has water-quality measurements published by NC DEQ, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 13.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.7 µg/L.
Fontana Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Swain County, North Carolina. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2024-11-05. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Fontana Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13.6 ft of visibility
- Camping1 public campground nearby
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Fontana Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Fontana Lake
These are the measurements NC DEQ publishes for Fontana Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 13.6 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.7 µg/L. TSI 46.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 13.6ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 30µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 4.7µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 46 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Fontana Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Fontana Lake
- Tsali Campground4.1 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
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Fontana Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fontana Lake in Swain 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Fontana Lake
Prices for Oct 23–25, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Fishing Fontana Lake
Nearby Lakes in Swain County
Frequently asked questions about Fontana Lake
Where is Fontana Lake?
- Fontana Lake is a lake in Swain County, North Carolina. Its water-quality measurements are published by NC DEQ and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Fontana Lake?
- Fontana Lake in Swain County, North Carolina has water-quality measurements published by NC DEQ, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 13.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.7 µg/L.
Is Fontana Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Can I fish at Fontana Lake?
- Public access to Fontana Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by North Carolina's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Are there campgrounds on Fontana Lake?
- Fontana Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Tsali 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 Fontana Lake across LakeQuality
2 documented falls within 19.7 mi, nearest Laurel Falls
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its readings
North Carolina's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
Planning a trip around Great Smoky Mountains?
Fontana Lake is about 12 miles from Great Smoky Mountains 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 Great Smoky Mountains →More lakes in North Carolina
Other Lakes in North Carolina
Mesotrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
60 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ60 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- WSSSOP
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles