North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam
Wise County, Virginia154 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Oligotrophic
- #3 of 3 in the county
North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam in Wise County, Virginia has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Surface area: 154 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.1 ft
- Area
- 154 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 10 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 2 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
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Watch North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam’s letter
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North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam is a 154-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Wise County, Virginia. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Wise County, North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Virginia DEQ, last sampled 2024-10-24. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12.1 ft of visibility
- Camping1 public campground nearby
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 12.1 ft. Phosphorus 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2 µg/L. TSI 39. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 154 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam
- Cane Patch4.9 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.06 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.24 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.25 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam is a man-made reservoir impounded by the North Fork of Pound Dam (completed 1966), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the North Fork of Pound River; rockfill-type dam, 122 ft tall and 600 ft long.
- Surface area
- 154 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,184 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 11,293 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 17 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Huntington District
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID VA195001 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.08 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Wise County
Nearby Lakes in Wise County
Frequently asked questions about North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam
Where is North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam?
- North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam is a lake in Wise County, Virginia. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam?
- North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam in Wise County, Virginia has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Surface area: 154 acres.
Is North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there campgrounds on North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam?
- North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Cane Patch. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam across LakeQuality
8.3 mi away · 60 ft
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.
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Oligotrophic Lakes in Virginia
Where this data comes from
112 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2014–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21VASWCB112 samples · 2014–2024
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
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles