Lake Tabor
Columbus County, North Carolina172 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- #2 of 2 in the county
- Limited data
Lake Tabor in Columbus County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 80 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 66 µg/L. Surface area: 172 acres.
- Area
- 172 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
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Stays near Lake Tabor
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Tabor in Columbus 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 Tabor are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Tabor
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Lake Tabor is a 172-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Columbus County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Columbus County, Lake Tabor ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2021-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 80 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 66 µg/L. TSI 70. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 80 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 66 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 70 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 172 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Tabor, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lake Tabor
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Tabor is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Tabor Dam (completed 1999), built primarily for recreation on the Grissett Swamp; earth-type dam, 15 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 172 ac
- Normal storage
- 590 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,700 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 10.28 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Theresa W Johnson
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC01196 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Columbus County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Tabor 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.
Nearby Lakes in Columbus County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Tabor
Where is Lake Tabor?
- Lake Tabor is a lake in Columbus 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 Tabor?
- Lake Tabor in Columbus County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 80 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 66 µg/L. Surface area: 172 acres.
Is Lake Tabor safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Lake Tabor across LakeQuality
23.9 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
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
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Full state directory
Other Grade F Lakes in North Carolina
Hypereutrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
30 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ30 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- 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.