Joes Valley Reservoir
Emery County, UtahView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #5 of 10 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Joes Valley Reservoir in Emery County, Utah has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 11.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 6.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 11.2 ft
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 6.3 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 2.5 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Joes Valley Reservoir’s letter
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Joes Valley Reservoir is a mesotrophic lake in Emery County, Utah. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Emery County, Joes Valley Reservoir ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Utah DWQ, last sampled 2025-09-30. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Joes Valley Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.2 ft of visibility
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.2 ft. Phosphorus 6.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.5 µg/L. TSI 38. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 6.3 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Fishing Joes Valley Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.267 m/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.17 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Joes Valley Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Joes Valley (completed 1966), built primarily for irrigation on the Seely Creek; earth-type dam, 192 ft tall and 750 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 61,538 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 74,237 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 144 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Emery Water Conservancy District
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID UT10124 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 10 lakes in Emery County
Nearby Lakes in Emery County
Frequently asked questions about Joes Valley Reservoir
Where is Joes Valley Reservoir?
- Joes Valley Reservoir is a lake in Emery County, Utah. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Joes Valley Reservoir?
- Joes Valley Reservoir in Emery County, Utah has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 11.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 6.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.5 µg/L.
Is Joes Valley Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Joes Valley Reservoir across LakeQuality
More Utah Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Utah
Mesotrophic Lakes in Utah
Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2019–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Utah Department Of Environmental Quality
UTAHDWQ_WQX20 samples · 2019–2025
Analytical methods
- Field Measurements
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 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.