Near Dam Lake
Colonial Heights city County, Virginia38 acresView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- Impaired · Pathogens (E. coli, fecal)
- Limited data
Near Dam Lake in Colonial Heights city County, Virginia is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.1 µg/L. Surface area: 38 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.6 ft
- Area
- 38 acres
- Phosphorus
- 40 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 13.1 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Watch Near Dam Lake’s letter
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Why Near Dam Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Near Dam Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by Virginia DEQ and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Near Dam Lake is a 38-acre lake in Colonial Heights city County, Virginia. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Virginia DEQ, last sampled 2013-10-02. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedBacteria advisory
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Near Dam Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Near Dam Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 13.1 µg/L. TSI 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 40 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.1 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 38 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Near Dam Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Near Dam Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.05 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -6.1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Near Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lakeview (completed 1920), built primarily for recreation on the Swift Creek; concrete-type dam, 39 ft tall and 472 ft long.
- Surface area
- 38 ac
- Normal storage
- 610 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 610 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 168 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- City of Colonial Heights
All listed purposes: Recreation;Hydroelectric.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID VA570001 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.26 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Near Dam Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit VAP-J17L_SFT02A08 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.57 km)
Graded lakes near Near Dam Lake
Near Dam Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Colonial Heights city County
Frequently asked questions about Near Dam Lake
Where is Near Dam Lake?
- Near Dam Lake is a lake in Colonial Heights city County, Virginia. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Near Dam Lake?
- Near Dam Lake in Colonial Heights city County, Virginia is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.1 µg/L. Surface area: 38 acres.
Is Near Dam Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Near Dam Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
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Where this data comes from
56 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2013. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21VASWCB56 samples · 2012–2013
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
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