Lake Owyhee
Malheur County, OregonView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #3 of 3 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake Owyhee in Malheur County, Oregon has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 15 µg/L.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Chlorophyll-a
- 15 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Owyhee
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Owyhee in Malheur County, Oregon — 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 Owyhee are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Owyhee
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Watch Lake Owyhee’s letter
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Lake Owyhee is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Malheur County, Oregon. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Malheur County, Lake Owyhee ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Oregon DEQ, last sampled 2025-10-28. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Owyhee is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Camping1 public campground nearby
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)
No clarity data. Chlorophyll-a 15 µg/L. TSI 57. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 15 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Recreation & Access
- Leslie GulchPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Lake Owyhee
- Slocum Creek Campground0.6 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Lake Owyhee
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +6.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Malheur County
Nearby Lakes in Malheur County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Owyhee
Where is Lake Owyhee?
- Lake Owyhee is a lake in Malheur County, Oregon. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Owyhee?
- Lake Owyhee in Malheur County, Oregon has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 15 µg/L.
Is Lake Owyhee safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Owyhee?
- Lake Owyhee has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Leslie Gulch. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Lake Owyhee?
- Lake Owyhee has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Slocum Creek Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Lake Owyhee across LakeQuality
22.8 mi away · 55 ft
3.2 mi away · recorded at 106°F
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Oregon's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Oregon's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Oregon Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Oregon
Baker County · Nutrient-rich
Baker County · Nutrient-rich
Crook County · Nutrient-rich
Crook County · Nutrient-rich
Jefferson County · Nutrient-rich
Jefferson County · Nutrient-rich
Eutrophic Lakes in Oregon
Where this data comes from
7 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Department of Environmental Quality - State of Oregon
OREGONDEQ7 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles