Mill Creek Reservoir
Amherst County, Virginia194 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · pH / acidity
- #5 of 7 in the county
- Public access
Mill Creek Reservoir in Amherst County, Virginia has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 15.5 µg/L. Surface area: 194 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.6 ft
- Area
- 194 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 15.5 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Mill Creek Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mill Creek Reservoir in Amherst County, Virginia — 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 Mill Creek Reservoir are listed below.
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Watch Mill Creek Reservoir’s letter
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Mill Creek Reservoir is a 194-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Amherst County, Virginia. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Amherst County, Mill Creek Reservoir ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Virginia DEQ, last sampled 2026-07-08. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Mill Creek Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 15.5 µg/L. TSI 54. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 15.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 194 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Mill Creek Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Mill Creek Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.023 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.5 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Mill Creek Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Buffalo River Dam # 4a, built primarily for water supply on the Mill Creek; earth-type dam, 64 ft tall and 400 ft long.
- Surface area
- 194 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,934 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 5,184 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 8.3 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Amherst County Department of Public Works
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID VA009024 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Mill Creek Reservoir is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit VAW-H11L_MIN01A06 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 7 lakes in Amherst County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Mill Creek Reservoir holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Amherst County
Frequently asked questions about Mill Creek Reservoir
Where is Mill Creek Reservoir?
- Mill Creek Reservoir is a lake in Amherst County, Virginia. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Mill Creek Reservoir?
- Mill Creek Reservoir in Amherst County, Virginia has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 15.5 µg/L. Surface area: 194 acres.
Is Mill Creek Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Mill Creek Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Mill Creek Reservoir across LakeQuality
3 documented falls within 12.8 mi, nearest Statons Creek Falls
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Virginia's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Other Grade D Lakes in Virginia
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Where this data comes from
61 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21VASWCB61 samples · 2025–2026
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 (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