Odell Lake
Klamath County, OregonView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #7 of 17 in the county
Odell Lake in Klamath County, Oregon has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 22.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.1 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 22.3 ft
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 30 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 1.1 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
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Watch Odell Lake’s letter
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Odell Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Klamath County, Oregon. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 16 other monitored lakes in Klamath County, Odell Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Oregon DEQ, last sampled 2025-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Odell Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water22.3 ft of visibility
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Odell Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO), pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Crystal clear, you can see 22.3 ft down. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.1 µg/L. TSI 39. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 22.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Fishing Odell Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.508 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.14 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.12 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Odell 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 OR_LK_1707030102_05_100063 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 17 lakes in Klamath County
Nearby Lakes in Klamath County
Frequently asked questions about Odell Lake
Where is Odell Lake?
- Odell Lake is a lake in Klamath County, Oregon. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Odell Lake?
- Odell Lake in Klamath County, Oregon has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 22.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.1 µg/L.
Is Odell Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Odell Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO), pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Odell Lake across LakeQuality
7.8 mi away · 286 ft
3 thermal springs within 23.2 mi, nearest McCredie Springs
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Oregon's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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Other Grade C Lakes in Oregon
Oligotrophic Lakes in Oregon
Where this data comes from
101 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Department of Environmental Quality - State of Oregon
OREGONDEQ101 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- 2012 National Lakes Assessment Field Operations Manual
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- Standard Test Method for Determination of Turbidity Above 1 Turbidity Unit (TU) in Static Mode
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