Lake Cheoah
Graham County, North Carolina1,767 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Oligotrophic
- #1 of 4 in the county
- Limited data
Lake Cheoah in Graham County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 14.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1 µg/L. Surface area: 1767 acres.
- Clarity
- 14.6 ft
- Area
- 1,767 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
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Stays near Lake Cheoah
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Watch Lake Cheoah’s letter
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Lake Cheoah is a 1,767-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Graham County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Graham County, Lake Cheoah ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2024-11-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Cheoah is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14.6 ft of visibility
- Big water1,767 acres
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.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 14.6 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1 µg/L. TSI 41. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1,767 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Cheoah, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lake Cheoah
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Cheoah is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Cheoah (completed 1919), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Little Tennessee; gravity-type dam, 236 ft tall and 750 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,767 ac
- Normal storage
- 35,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 42,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,608 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Brookfield Renewable Energy Group (ARO)
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC00393 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 4 lakes in Graham County
Nearby Lakes in Graham County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Cheoah
Where is Lake Cheoah?
- Lake Cheoah is a lake in Graham 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 Cheoah?
- Lake Cheoah in Graham County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 14.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1 µg/L. Surface area: 1767 acres.
Is Lake Cheoah safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Lake Cheoah across LakeQuality
2 documented falls within 22.3 mi, nearest Abrams Falls
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
North Carolina's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
Planning a trip around Great Smoky Mountains?
Lake Cheoah is about 23 miles from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Great Smoky Mountains →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 C Lakes in North Carolina
Oligotrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
60 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 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
21NC03WQ60 samples · 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.