Mouth Big Lick Cr. Lake
Alleghany County, VirginiaView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Oligotrophic
- #2 of 2 in the county
Mouth Big Lick Cr. Lake in Alleghany County, Virginia has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.7 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 12.5 ft
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 10 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 1.7 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Watch Mouth Big Lick Cr. Lake’s letter
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Mouth Big Lick Cr. Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Alleghany County, Virginia. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Alleghany County, Mouth Big Lick Cr. Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Virginia DEQ, last sampled 2026-07-06. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Mouth Big Lick Cr. Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12.5 ft of visibility
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.5 ft. Phosphorus 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.7 µg/L. TSI 38. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Fishing Mouth Big Lick Cr. Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 8 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.002 m/yr | 8 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.24 µg/L/yr | 8 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.01 µg/L/yr | 8 |
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Alleghany County
Nearby Lakes in Alleghany County
Frequently asked questions about Mouth Big Lick Cr. Lake
Where is Mouth Big Lick Cr. Lake?
- Mouth Big Lick Cr. Lake is a lake in Alleghany County, Virginia. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Mouth Big Lick Cr. Lake?
- Mouth Big Lick Cr. Lake in Alleghany County, Virginia has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.7 µg/L.
Is Mouth Big Lick Cr. Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Mouth Big Lick Cr. Lake across LakeQuality
2 documented falls within 24.8 mi, nearest Falls of Hills Creek (Lower Falls)
4 thermal springs within 8.7 mi, nearest Falling Spring
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.
Virginia's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Virginia Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Virginia
Oligotrophic Lakes in Virginia
Where this data comes from
466 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2013–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21VASWCB466 samples · 2013–2026
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.