Greenfield Lake
New Hanover County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↑ up from D at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #3 of 3 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Greenfield Lake in New Hanover County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 55 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 20.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 4.7 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Greenfield Lake’s letter
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Greenfield Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in New Hanover County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in New Hanover County, Greenfield Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2023-09-05. 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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Greenfield Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4.7 ft. Phosphorus 55 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 20.5 µg/L. TSI 59. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 55 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 20.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Fishing Greenfield Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Greenfield Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Greenfield Lake Dam (completed 1800), built primarily for recreation on the Cape Fear River; concrete-type dam, 9 ft tall and 1,200 ft long.
- Max storage
- 200 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- City of Wilmington
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC01113 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Greenfield 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 NC18-76-1 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in New Hanover County
Nearby Lakes in New Hanover County
Frequently asked questions about Greenfield Lake
Where is Greenfield Lake?
- Greenfield Lake is a lake in New Hanover County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Greenfield Lake?
- Greenfield Lake in New Hanover County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 55 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 20.5 µg/L.
Is Greenfield Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Greenfield Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Greenfield Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
North Carolina's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More North Carolina Lake Rankings
Ranked by overall water quality grade
Top 25 by Secchi water clarity
Grade A/B + low algae filter
Panfish-rich, public access
Full state directory
Other Grade C Lakes in North Carolina
Eutrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
39 measurements from 2 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
21NC03WQ39 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 (2)
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