Graham-Mebane Reservoir
Alamance County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- #2 of 2 in the county
- 40 ft max depth
- Limited data
Graham-Mebane Reservoir in Alamance County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 44 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Max depth
- ~40 ft est.
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
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Stays near Graham-Mebane Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Graham-Mebane Reservoir in Alamance 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 Graham-Mebane Reservoir are listed below.
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Watch Graham-Mebane Reservoir’s letter
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Graham-Mebane Reservoir is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Alamance County, North Carolina with an estimated average depth of about 40 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Alamance County, Graham-Mebane Reservoir ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2023-09-11. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Graham-Mebane Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 44 µg/L. TSI 62. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 44 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~40 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~16 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. North Carolina has not published bathymetry for Graham-Mebane Reservoir.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Graham-Mebane Reservoir
EPA Impairment Status
Graham-Mebane Reservoir is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NC16-18-(1.5)a2a · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.57 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Alamance County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Graham-Mebane Reservoir holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Alamance County
Frequently asked questions about Graham-Mebane Reservoir
Where is Graham-Mebane Reservoir?
- Graham-Mebane Reservoir is a lake in Alamance 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 Graham-Mebane Reservoir?
- Graham-Mebane Reservoir in Alamance County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 44 µg/L.
Is Graham-Mebane Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Graham-Mebane Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Graham-Mebane Reservoir?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Graham-Mebane Reservoir, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 40 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Explore Graham-Mebane Reservoir across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
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Where this data comes from
99 measurements from 5 monitoring stations, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ99 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- WSSSOP
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (5)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)