North Arm of Mill Creek Lake
Amherst County, VirginiaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · pH / acidity
- #6 of 7 in the county
North Arm of Mill Creek Lake 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): 14.1 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.6 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 14.1 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Stays near North Arm of Mill Creek Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Arm of Mill Creek Lake 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 North Arm of Mill Creek Lake are listed below.
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North Arm of Mill Creek Lake is a 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. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Amherst County, North Arm of Mill Creek Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Virginia DEQ, last sampled 2026-07-08. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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. North Arm of Mill Creek Lake 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 14.1 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) | 14.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Fishing North Arm of Mill Creek Lake
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 |
EPA Impairment Status
North Arm of Mill Creek 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 VAW-H11L_MIN01A06 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.67 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 7 lakes in Amherst County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
North Arm of Mill Creek Lake 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 North Arm of Mill Creek Lake
Where is North Arm of Mill Creek Lake?
- North Arm of Mill Creek Lake 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 North Arm of Mill Creek Lake?
- North Arm of Mill Creek Lake 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): 14.1 µg/L.
Is North Arm of Mill Creek Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. North Arm of Mill Creek Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore North Arm of Mill Creek Lake across LakeQuality
3 documented falls within 12.4 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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Where this data comes from
70 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
21VASWCB70 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