Lake Mattamuskeet
Hyde County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- 283 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake Mattamuskeet in Hyde County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 55 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 102.5 µg/L.
- Max depth
- ~283 ft est.
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Mattamuskeet
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Mattamuskeet in Hyde County, North Carolina — 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 Mattamuskeet are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Mattamuskeet
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Lake Mattamuskeet is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Hyde County, North Carolina with an estimated average depth of about 283 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2021-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Mattamuskeet is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake Mattamuskeet is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, pH / acidity, turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 55 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 102.5 µg/L. TSI 69. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 55 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 102.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~283 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~9 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 Mattamuskeet.
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
- Hydeland CanalPublic
- Lake Mattamuskeet Boat RampPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Mattamuskeet
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Mattamuskeet 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 NC29-57-1-1 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Hyde County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Mattamuskeet holds Grade F. 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 Hyde County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Mattamuskeet
Where is Lake Mattamuskeet?
- Lake Mattamuskeet is a lake in Hyde County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Mattamuskeet?
- Lake Mattamuskeet in Hyde County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 55 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 102.5 µg/L.
Is Lake Mattamuskeet safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake Mattamuskeet is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, pH / acidity, turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lake Mattamuskeet?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Lake Mattamuskeet, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 283 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 Mattamuskeet?
- Lake Mattamuskeet has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hydeland Canal, Lake Mattamuskeet Boat Ramp. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Mattamuskeet across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
North Carolina's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
Planning a trip around Cape Hatteras?
Lake Mattamuskeet is about 33 miles from Cape Hatteras National Seashore. 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 Cape Hatteras →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 F Lakes in North Carolina
Hypereutrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
24 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ24 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory