Lake James
Burke County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- 109 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake James in Burke County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.4 µg/L.
- Max depth
- ~109 ft est.
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Lake James is a mesotrophic lake in Burke County, North Carolina with an estimated average depth of about 109 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2022-09-06. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake James is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch4 documented ramps
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)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.4 µg/L. TSI 51. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 40 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~109 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~48 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. North Carolina has not published bathymetry for Lake James.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Linville RiverPublic
- Black BearPublic
- Canal Bridge Boat Ramp pPublic
- Hidden Cove Public Boat AccessPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake James
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Burke County
Nearby Lakes in Burke County
Frequently asked questions about Lake James
Where is Lake James?
- Lake James is a lake in Burke 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 James?
- Lake James in Burke County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.4 µg/L.
Is Lake James safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lake James?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Lake James, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 109 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Lake James?
- Lake James has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Linville River, Black Bear, Canal Bridge Boat Ramp p, Hidden Cove Public Boat Access. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake James across LakeQuality
3 documented falls within 14.4 mi, nearest Toms Creek Falls
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
North Carolina's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
Planning a trip around Blue Ridge?
Lake James is about 35 miles from Blue Ridge Parkway. 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 Blue Ridge →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
Mesotrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
69 measurements from 6 monitoring stations, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ69 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory