Lakeside Lake
Pima County, ArizonaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↑ up from D at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Noxious aquatic plants
- #1 of 2 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Lakeside Lake in Pima County, Arizona has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 1.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 1.3 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 70 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Lakeside Lake’s letter
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Lakeside Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Pima County, Arizona. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Pima County, Lakeside Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2026-04-02. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lakeside Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
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. Lakeside Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for noxious aquatic plants, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 1.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 70 µg/L. TSI 69. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 70 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Recreation & Access
- Lakeside Park (Tucson)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lakeside Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 8 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -5.72 µg/L/yr | 8 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lakeside Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit AZL15050302-0760_00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Pima County
Nearby Lakes in Pima County
Frequently asked questions about Lakeside Lake
Where is Lakeside Lake?
- Lakeside Lake is a lake in Pima County, Arizona. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lakeside Lake?
- Lakeside Lake in Pima County, Arizona has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 1.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70 µg/L.
Is Lakeside Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lakeside Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for noxious aquatic plants, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Lakeside Lake?
- Lakeside Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lakeside Park (Tucson). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lakeside Lake across LakeQuality
2 thermal springs within 12.2 mi, nearest Agua Caliente
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Arizona's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Arizona's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
Planning a trip around Saguaro?
Lakeside Lake is about 4 miles from Saguaro National Park. 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 Saguaro →More Arizona Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Arizona
Eutrophic Lakes in Arizona
Where this data comes from
14 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Great Lakes Environmental Center
GLEC14 samples · 2022–2026
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 300.0 ~ EPA; Determination of Inorganic Anions by Ion Chromatography
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory