Kerr Scott Reservoir
Wilkes County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- 77 ft max depth
- Public access
Kerr Scott Reservoir in Wilkes County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 17 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 4.9 ft
- Max depth
- ~77 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Kerr Scott Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Kerr Scott Reservoir in Wilkes 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 Kerr Scott Reservoir are listed below.
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Watch Kerr Scott Reservoir’s letter
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Kerr Scott Reservoir is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wilkes County, North Carolina with an estimated average depth of about 77 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2024-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Kerr Scott Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch4 documented ramps
- Camping1 public campground nearby
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Kerr Scott Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, pH / acidity, temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 4.9 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 17 µg/L. TSI 55. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 17 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~77 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
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 Kerr Scott 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.
Recreation & Access
- Unnamed RampPublic
- Unnamed RampPublic
- Smithey's Creek ParkPublic
- Unnamed RampPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Kerr Scott Reservoir
- Bandits Roost Campground1.4 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
Fishing Kerr Scott Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.33 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.33 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Kerr Scott Reservoir is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NC12-(27.5)b · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.01 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Wilkes County
Nearby Lakes in Wilkes County
Frequently asked questions about Kerr Scott Reservoir
Where is Kerr Scott Reservoir?
- Kerr Scott Reservoir is a lake in Wilkes County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Kerr Scott Reservoir?
- Kerr Scott Reservoir in Wilkes County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 17 µg/L.
Is Kerr Scott Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Kerr Scott Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, pH / acidity, temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Kerr Scott Reservoir?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Kerr Scott Reservoir, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 77 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Kerr Scott Reservoir?
- Kerr Scott Reservoir has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Unnamed Ramp, Unnamed Ramp, Smithey's Creek Park, Unnamed Ramp. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Kerr Scott Reservoir?
- Kerr Scott Reservoir has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Bandits Roost 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 Kerr Scott Reservoir 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
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Where this data comes from
80 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ80 samples · 2021–2024
Analytical methods
- WSSSOP
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles