Lake Raleigh
Wake County, North Carolina88 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #2 of 14 in the county
Lake Raleigh in Wake County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 29.5 µg/L. Surface area: 88.1 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Area
- 88 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Raleigh
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Raleigh in Wake 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 Raleigh are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Raleigh
Prices for Sep 4–6, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Watch Lake Raleigh’s letter
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Lake Raleigh is a 88-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wake County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Wake County, Lake Raleigh ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2025-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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. Lake Raleigh is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5A) for pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 29.5 µg/L. TSI 62. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 45 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 29.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 88 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Raleigh, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lake Raleigh
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +3.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Raleigh is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Raleigh Dam (completed 1914), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Walnut Creek; earth-type dam, 29 ft tall and 762 ft long.
- Surface area
- 88.1 ac
- Normal storage
- 560 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,921 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 12.01 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- State of North Carolina, State Property Office
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC00863 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Raleigh is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NC27-34-(3.5) · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.16 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 14 lakes in Wake County
Nearby Lakes in Wake County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Raleigh
Where is Lake Raleigh?
- Lake Raleigh is a lake in Wake County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Raleigh?
- Lake Raleigh in Wake County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 29.5 µg/L. Surface area: 88.1 acres.
Is Lake Raleigh safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake Raleigh is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5A) for pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Lake Raleigh across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Other Grade D Lakes in North Carolina
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Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ32 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- WSSSOP
- 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