Lake Houston
Harris County, TexasView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- #2 of 4 in the county
- Limited data
Lake Houston in Harris County, Texas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 0.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 780 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 26.2 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 0.6 ft
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 780 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 26.2 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Houston
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Houston in Harris County, Texas — 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 Houston are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Houston
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Texas’s top lakes →
Watch Lake Houston’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Lake Houston is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Harris County, Texas. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Harris County, Lake Houston ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TCEQ, last sampled 2025-03-31. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 0.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 780 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 26.2 µg/L. TSI 83. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 780 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 26.2 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 83 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Fishing Lake Houston
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.01 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -118.33 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +9.73 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 4 lakes in Harris County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Houston holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Harris County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Houston
Where is Lake Houston?
- Lake Houston is a lake in Harris County, Texas. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Houston?
- Lake Houston in Harris County, Texas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 0.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 780 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 26.2 µg/L.
Is Lake Houston safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Lake Houston across LakeQuality
More Texas Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Texas
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Texas
Where this data comes from
33 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
TCEQMAIN33 samples · 2020–2025
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.