Lake Ben Johnson
Orange County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 7 in the county
Lake Ben Johnson in Orange County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Watch Lake Ben Johnson’s letter
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Lake Ben Johnson is a mesotrophic lake in Orange County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Orange County, Lake Ben Johnson ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2025-09-11. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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)
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.5 µg/L. TSI 56. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 50 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Fishing Lake Ben Johnson
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.12 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Ben Johnson is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Johnson Lake Dam (completed 1955), built primarily for other on the Eno River; earth-type dam, 15 ft tall and 110 ft long.
- Drainage area
- 59.8 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Town of Hillsborough
All listed purposes: Other;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC00774 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 7 lakes in Orange County
Nearby Lakes in Orange County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Ben Johnson
Where is Lake Ben Johnson?
- Lake Ben Johnson is a lake in Orange County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Ben Johnson?
- Lake Ben Johnson in Orange County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.5 µg/L.
Is Lake Ben Johnson safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Lake Ben Johnson across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Grade A/B + low algae filter
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Full state directory
Other Grade C Lakes in North Carolina
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Where this data comes from
41 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 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
21NC03WQ41 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- WSSSOP
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
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.