Limestone Lake
Duplin County, North Carolina69 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Limited data
Limestone Lake in Duplin County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 63 µg/L. Surface area: 69 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Area
- 69 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
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Stays near Limestone Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Limestone Lake in Duplin 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 Limestone Lake are listed below.
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Limestone Lake is a 69-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Duplin County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2023.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2023-09-18. 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)
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 63 µg/L. TSI 66. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 50 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 63 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 69 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Limestone Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Limestone Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Limestone Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Limestone Creek Watershed Dam #1 (completed 1993), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Cabin Creek; earth-type dam, 23 ft tall and 1,100 ft long.
- Surface area
- 69 ac
- Normal storage
- 31 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 691 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.31 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Duplin County Parks & Recreation
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Irrigation;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC04959 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.45 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Duplin County
Nearby Lakes in Duplin County
Frequently asked questions about Limestone Lake
Where is Limestone Lake?
- Limestone Lake is a lake in Duplin 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 Limestone Lake?
- Limestone Lake in Duplin County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 63 µg/L. Surface area: 69 acres.
Is Limestone Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Limestone Lake across LakeQuality
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
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Where this data comes from
37 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ37 samples · 2023
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 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.