Henderson County, North Carolina · Water Quality Report Card
Lake Summit
Lake Summit in Henderson County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of D (Poor). Water clarity: 7.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 7.2 ft
- Mean depth
- ~22 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
Lake Summit is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Henderson County, North Carolina with an estimated average depth of about 22 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2025-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D (Poor)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.2 ft | |
| Phosphorus | 50 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~22 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. North Carolina has not published bathymetry for Lake Summit.
Where to stay near Lake Summit
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Summit in Henderson 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.
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Fishing Lake Summit
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Henderson County
Nearby Lakes in Henderson County
Explore Lake Summit across LakeGrade
4 documented falls within 12.3 mi, nearest Triple Falls
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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Planning a trip around Blue Ridge?
Lake Summit is about 24 miles from Blue Ridge Parkway. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Blue Ridge →More North Carolina Lake Rankings
Top 25 by overall water quality score
Top 25 by Secchi water clarity
Grade A/B + low algae filter
Panfish-rich, public access
Full state directory
Other Grade D Lakes in North Carolina
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More records, surveys & data sources
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.
Where this data comes from
40 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 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
21NC03WQ40 samples · 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 come from the U.S. EPA National Lakes Assessment 2022 Technical Support Document (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion
Most recent sample: 2025-09-29
Monitoring stations: 2