Lake Sequoyah
Macon County, North Carolina54 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 2 in the county
- Limited data
Lake Sequoyah in Macon County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7 µg/L. Surface area: 54 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.4 ft
- Area
- 54 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Sequoyah
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Sequoyah in Macon 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 Sequoyah
Prices for Sep 4–6, 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 whole trip? See where to stay at North Carolina’s top lakes →
Watch Lake Sequoyah’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Lake Sequoyah is a 54-acre mesotrophic lake in Macon County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Macon County, Lake Sequoyah ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2024-11-04. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Sequoyah is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- 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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake Sequoyah is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 5.4 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 7 µg/L. TSI 52. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 54 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Sequoyah, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Lake Sequoyah
- Van Hook Glade Campground2.6 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 Sequoyah
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Sequoyah is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Sequoyah Dam (completed 1926), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Cullasaja River; concrete-type dam, 25 ft tall and 194 ft long.
- Surface area
- 54 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,980 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,376 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 14.4 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Town of Highlands
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC00160 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Sequoyah 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 NC2-21-(0.5)b · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.69 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Macon County
Nearby Lakes in Macon County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Sequoyah
Where is Lake Sequoyah?
- Lake Sequoyah is a lake in Macon County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Sequoyah?
- Lake Sequoyah in Macon County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7 µg/L. Surface area: 54 acres.
Is Lake Sequoyah safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake Sequoyah is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown). Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there campgrounds on Lake Sequoyah?
- Lake Sequoyah has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Van Hook Glade 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 Sequoyah across LakeQuality
4 documented falls within 9.1 mi, nearest Dry Falls
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
North Carolina's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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 C Lakes in North Carolina
Mesotrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
60 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ60 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- WSSSOP
- 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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles