Mcveigh Ford Lake
Franklin County, VirginiaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #8 of 13 in the county
Mcveigh Ford Lake in Franklin County, Virginia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 0.6 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.9 ft
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 30 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 0.6 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Watch Mcveigh Ford Lake’s letter
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Mcveigh Ford Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Franklin County, Virginia. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Franklin County, Mcveigh Ford Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Virginia DEQ, last sampled 2026-04-14. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria advisory
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. Mcveigh Ford Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, pathogens (E. coli, fecal), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 0.6 µg/L. TSI 45. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 0.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Fishing Mcveigh Ford Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 14 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.001 m/yr | 14 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.05 µg/L/yr | 14 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.03 µg/L/yr | 14 |
EPA Impairment Status
Mcveigh Ford Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit VAW-L07L_ROA05A14 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.4 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 13 lakes in Franklin County
Nearby Lakes in Franklin County
Frequently asked questions about Mcveigh Ford Lake
Where is Mcveigh Ford Lake?
- Mcveigh Ford Lake is a lake in Franklin County, Virginia. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Mcveigh Ford Lake?
- Mcveigh Ford Lake in Franklin County, Virginia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 0.6 µg/L.
Is Mcveigh Ford Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Mcveigh Ford Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, pathogens (E. coli, fecal), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Mcveigh Ford Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Virginia's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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Where this data comes from
382 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2012–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21VASWCB382 samples · 2012–2026
Analytical methods
- Tyler, John. 1968. The secchi disk, Limnology and Oceanograpy, 13(1):1-6.
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 446.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophylls and Pheopigments in Phytoplankton by Spectrophotometry
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.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database