Jordan Lake
Chatham County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- #3 of 7 in the county
- Public access
Jordan Lake in Chatham County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 46 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.2 ft
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Jordan Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Jordan Lake in Chatham 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 Jordan Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Jordan Lake
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Jordan Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Chatham County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Chatham County, Jordan Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2025-12-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Jordan Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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. Jordan Lake 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 2.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 46 µg/L. TSI 65. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 50 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 46 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Recreation & Access
- Farrington PointPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Jordan Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.019 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.81 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.51 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Jordan Lake 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 NC16-41-(3.5)a2 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.46 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 7 lakes in Chatham County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Jordan Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Chatham County
Frequently asked questions about Jordan Lake
Where is Jordan Lake?
- Jordan Lake is a lake in Chatham 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 Jordan Lake?
- Jordan Lake in Chatham County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 46 µg/L.
Is Jordan Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Jordan Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Jordan Lake?
- Jordan Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Farrington Point. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Jordan Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor 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 F Lakes in North Carolina
Hypereutrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
2,389 measurements from 10 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ2,273 samples · 2020–2025 - USGS North Carolina Water Science Center
USGS-NC116 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Secchi disk method
- P, wu, WCA, persulfate CF color
- Pigments, algae, EPA445.0 w/ACTN
- Plant pigments, sonication & 445
- HACH 2100Q, NTRU
- WSSSOP
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (10)
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