Lake Almanor
Lake Almanor in Plumas County, California has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.4 µg/L.
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Lake Almanor is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Plumas County, California. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 8 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2023-08-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 30.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 30 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Lake Almanor
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Almanor in Plumas County, California — 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Almanor
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Recreation & Access
- North of PlattvillePublic
- Plumas Pines ResortSemi-private
- Lake Almanor West Shore CampgroundSemi-private
- Lake Almanor Country Club Recreation Area 1Semi-private
- Big Cove ResortSemi-private
- Knotty Pine Resort & MarinaSemi-private
Showing 6 of 8 documented landings from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory.
Named access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, snapped within 5 km. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Almanor
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Almanor is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit CAL5184100020020418094956 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Plumas County
Nearby Lakes in Plumas County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Almanor
Where is Lake Almanor?
- Lake Almanor is a lake in Plumas County, California. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Almanor?
- Lake Almanor in Plumas County, California has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.4 µg/L.
Is Lake Almanor safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Lake Almanor has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Almanor?
- Lake Almanor has 8 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include North of Plattville, Plumas Pines Resort, Lake Almanor West Shore Campground, Lake Almanor Country Club Recreation Area 1, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Almanor across LakeGrade
More California Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in California
Oligotrophic Lakes in California
Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 6 monitoring stations, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.
Collected and reported by
- USGS California Water Science Center
USGS-CA12 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Nutrients, wu, persulfate, color
- Pigments, algae, EPA445.0 w/ACTN
Monitoring station identifiers (6)
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