North Anna River Lake
Spotsylvania County, VirginiaView mapDirections
Virginia DEQ publishes the water-quality measurements for North Anna River Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Impaired · Algal growth
- Limited data
North Anna River Lake in Spotsylvania County, Virginia has water-quality measurements published by Virginia DEQ, shown here as reported. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 59.5 µg/L.
North Anna River Lake is a lake in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Virginia DEQ, last sampled 2020-09-09. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What North Anna River Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming conditions
No readingRecreation use not supported
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. North Anna River Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether North Anna River Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for North Anna River Lake
These are the measurements Virginia DEQ publishes for North Anna River Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Chlorophyll-a 59.5 µg/L. TSI 71.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 59.5µg/L | Measured, not scored The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 71 | Hypereutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Ask about North Anna River Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Recreation & Access
- The Boardwalk on Lake AnnaSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near North Anna River Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Anna River Lake in Spotsylvania 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.
Top-rated places to stay near North Anna River Lake
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Fishing North Anna River Lake
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2018–2026).
Water clarity
Worsening4 years
EPA Impairment Status
North Anna River Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit VAN-F07L_NAR04A06 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Spotsylvania County
Frequently asked questions about North Anna River Lake
Where is North Anna River Lake?
- North Anna River Lake is a lake in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Its water-quality measurements are published by Virginia DEQ and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of North Anna River Lake?
- North Anna River Lake in Spotsylvania County, Virginia has water-quality measurements published by Virginia DEQ, shown here as reported. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 59.5 µg/L.
Is North Anna River Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. North Anna River Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on North Anna River Lake?
- North Anna River Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include The Boardwalk on Lake Anna.
Can I fish at North Anna River Lake?
- North Anna River Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Virginia's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore North Anna River Lake across LakeQuality
Planning a trip around Shenandoah?
North Anna River Lake is about 40 miles from Shenandoah National Park. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Shenandoah →More lakes in Virginia
Other Lakes in Virginia
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Virginia
Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- USGS Virginia Water Science Center
USGS-VA3 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Plant pigments, sonication & 445
- YSI EXO turbidity sensor, FNU
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory