Near Dam Lake
Cumberland County, Virginia52 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Oxygen depletion (low DO)
- #1 of 1 in the county
Near Dam Lake in Cumberland County, Virginia has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 60 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 33.6 µg/L. Surface area: 52 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.1 ft
- Area
- 52 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 60 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 33.6 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Near Dam Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Near Dam Lake in Cumberland 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 Near Dam Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Near Dam Lake
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Watch Near Dam Lake’s letter
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Near Dam Lake is a 52-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Cumberland County, Virginia. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years.
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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Near Dam Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 60 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 33.6 µg/L. TSI 65. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 60 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 33.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 52 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 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.054 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.87 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.13 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Near Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Bear Creek Dam (completed 1939), built primarily for recreation on the Bear Creek; earth-type dam, 32 ft tall and 180 ft long.
- Surface area
- 52 ac
- Normal storage
- 508 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,090 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6.5 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Department of Conservation & Recreation - Division of State Parks
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID VA049002 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.1 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 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit VAP-H36L_BRC01A06 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.49 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Cumberland County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Near Dam Lake holds Grade F. 3 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 Cumberland County
Frequently asked questions about Near Dam Lake
Where is Near Dam Lake?
- Near Dam Lake is a lake in Cumberland County, Virginia. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Near Dam Lake?
- Near Dam Lake in Cumberland County, Virginia has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 60 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 33.6 µg/L. Surface area: 52 acres.
Is Near Dam Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Near Dam Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Near Dam Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Virginia's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
104 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2019–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21VASWCB104 samples · 2019–2026
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