Lake Reese
Randolph County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- #5 of 5 in the county
- 33 ft max depth
Lake Reese in Randolph County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31 µg/L.
- Max depth
- ~33 ft est.
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Reese
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Reese in Randolph 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 Reese are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Reese
Prices for Sep 4–6, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Watch Lake Reese’s letter
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Lake Reese is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Randolph County, North Carolina with an estimated average depth of about 33 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Randolph County, Lake Reese ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2022-09-15. 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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake Reese is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 31 µg/L. TSI 61. 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) | 31 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~33 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~27 ft est. |
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 Reese.
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.
Fishing Lake Reese
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Reese 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 NC13-2-(1.3) · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.91 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 5 lakes in Randolph County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Reese 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.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Randolph County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Reese
Where is Lake Reese?
- Lake Reese is a lake in Randolph 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 Reese?
- Lake Reese in Randolph County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31 µg/L.
Is Lake Reese safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake Reese is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lake Reese?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Lake Reese, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 33 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Explore Lake Reese across LakeQuality
17.8 mi away · cable-pulled, no boat wake
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
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Where this data comes from
93 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2021–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ93 samples · 2021–2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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)