Lake Norman
Iredell County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
NC DEQ publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Norman. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · PCBs
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake Norman in Iredell County, North Carolina has water-quality measurements published by NC DEQ, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.5 µg/L.
Lake Norman is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Iredell County, North Carolina. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Iredell County, Lake Norman ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2022-09-08. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Lake Norman has 3 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Lake Norman, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Lake Norman is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Norman is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pCBs, turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lake Norman is safe to swim in today is a call for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Lake Norman
These are the measurements NC DEQ publishes for Lake Norman, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 8.5 µg/L. TSI 51.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 25µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 8.5µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 51 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Lake Norman
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Recreation & Access
- Long IslandPublic
- Stumpy Creek Boat LandingPublic
- Lake Norman State Park Boat RampPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Norman
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Norman in Iredell 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Norman
Prices for Oct 23–25, 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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake Norman → · more North Carolina lake trips
Follow Lake Norman’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fishing Lake Norman
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Norman is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NC11-(75) · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Iredell County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Norman
Where is Lake Norman?
- Lake Norman is a lake in Iredell County, North Carolina. Its water-quality measurements are published by NC DEQ and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lake Norman?
- Lake Norman in Iredell County, North Carolina has water-quality measurements published by NC DEQ, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.5 µg/L.
Is Lake Norman safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Norman is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pCBs, turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Norman?
- Lake Norman has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Long Island, Stumpy Creek Boat Landing, Lake Norman State Park Boat Ramp. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Norman?
- Lake Norman has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by North Carolina's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Lake Norman across LakeQuality
More lakes in North Carolina
Other Lakes in North Carolina
Eutrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
14 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 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
21NC03WQ14 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory