Lava Lake
Deschutes County, OregonView mapDirections
Oregon DEQ publishes the water-quality measurements for Lava Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Limited data
Lava Lake in Deschutes County, Oregon has water-quality measurements published by Oregon DEQ, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 17.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.5 µg/L.
Lava Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Deschutes County, Oregon. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Deschutes County, Lava Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Oregon DEQ, last sampled 2024-09-12. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Lava Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Lava Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water17.6 ft of visibility
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lava Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Lava Lake
These are the measurements Oregon DEQ publishes for Lava Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 17.6 ft down. Phosphorus 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 7.5 µg/L. TSI 47.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 17.6ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 35µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 7.5µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 47 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Lava Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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Stays near Lava Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lava Lake in Deschutes County, Oregon — 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Lava Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lava Lake
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Fishing Lava Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring (2021–2024).
Phosphorus
Improving-27 µg/L/yr4 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-11.67 µg/L/yr4 years
Nearby Lakes in Deschutes County
Frequently asked questions about Lava Lake
Where is Lava Lake?
- Lava Lake is a lake in Deschutes County, Oregon. Its water-quality measurements are published by Oregon DEQ and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lava Lake?
- Lava Lake in Deschutes County, Oregon has water-quality measurements published by Oregon DEQ, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 17.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.5 µg/L.
Is Lava Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Can I fish at Lava Lake?
- Public access to Lava Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Oregon's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Lava Lake across LakeQuality
2 documented falls within 18 mi, nearest Tumalo Falls
2 thermal springs within 23 mi, nearest Foley Springs
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Oregon's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
24 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Department of Environmental Quality - State of Oregon
OREGONDEQ24 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- 2012 National Lakes Assessment Field Operations Manual
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- Standard Test Method for Determination of Turbidity Above 1 Turbidity Unit (TU) in Static Mode
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.