Lake Anna
Spotsylvania County, VirginiaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #5 of 7 in the county
Lake Anna in Spotsylvania County, Virginia has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 21.2 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 30 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 21.2 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Anna
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Anna in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — 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 Lake Anna are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Anna
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Watch Lake Anna’s letter
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Lake Anna is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Spotsylvania County, Lake Anna ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Virginia DEQ, last sampled 2026-07-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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. Lake Anna is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 21.2 µg/L. TSI 58. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 21.2 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Fishing Lake Anna
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 9 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.089 m/yr | 9 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.72 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.23 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Anna 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 VAN-F07L_NAR03B22 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 7 lakes in Spotsylvania County
Nearby Lakes in Spotsylvania County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Anna
Where is Lake Anna?
- Lake Anna is a lake in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Anna?
- Lake Anna in Spotsylvania County, Virginia has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 21.2 µg/L.
Is Lake Anna safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake Anna is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Lake Anna across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Virginia's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Virginia's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Virginia Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Virginia
Eutrophic Lakes in Virginia
Where this data comes from
4,484 measurements from 29 monitoring stations, 2012–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21VASWCB4,281 samples · 2012–2026 - USGS Virginia Water Science Center
USGS-VA203 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Secchi disk method
- P, wu, ascorbic acid colorimetry
- Particulate-P, SAF colorimetry
- Plant pigments, algae, vis spec
- YSI EXO turbidity sensor, FNU
- Turbidity, wu, lab nephelometry
- Tyler, John. 1968. The secchi disk, Limnology and Oceanograpy, 13(1):1-6.
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- USEPA Chesapeake Bay Methods 1996 P IV - 30. Particulate Phosphorus
- 440 S ~ Determination of Carbon and Nitrogen
Monitoring station identifiers (29)
- USGS-01670144
- USGS-01670209
- USGS-016702576
- 21VASWCB-8-NAR047.69
- 21VASWCB-8-NAR043.00
- 21VASWCB-8-NAR044.68
- 21VASWCB-8-NAR034.92
- 21VASWCB-8-TRY001.39
- 21VASWCB-8-NAR058.53
- 21VASWCB-8-PMC007.15
- 21VASWCB-8-PMC002.13
- 21VASWCB-8-NAR054.17
- 21VASWCB-8-NAR056.36
- 21VASWCB-8-NAR037.22
- 21VASWCB-8-PMC003.18
- 21VASWCB-8-NAR052.59
- 21VASWCB-8-NAR058.01
- 21VASWCB-8-DSR000.00
- 21VASWCB-8-CRC000.95
- 21VASWCB-8-PMC007.98
- 21VASWCB-8-DUK000.64
- 21VASWCB-8-NAR050.90
- 21VASWCB-8-PMC000.10
- 21VASWCB-8-NAR058.31
- 21VASWCB-8-NAR057.71
- +4 more
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