Otter Creek Reservoir
Piute County, UtahView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #4 of 8 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Otter Creek Reservoir in Piute County, Utah has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 5.2 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 36.3 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 10 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Otter Creek Reservoir
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Otter Creek Reservoir is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Piute County, Utah. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2020. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Piute County, Otter Creek Reservoir ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Utah DWQ, last sampled 2020-08-11. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Otter Creek Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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. Otter Creek Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 5.2 ft. Phosphorus 36.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 10 µg/L. TSI 54. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 36.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Recreation & Access
- Otter Creek State ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Otter Creek Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.158 m/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Otter Creek Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Otter Creek (completed 1897), built primarily for irrigation on the Otter Creek; earth-type dam, 43 ft tall and 1,220 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 52,660 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 71,790 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 364 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- OTTER CREEK RESERVOIR COMPANY
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID UT00235 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Otter Creek Reservoir is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit UT-L-16030002-004_00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 8 lakes in Piute County
Nearby Lakes in Piute County
Frequently asked questions about Otter Creek Reservoir
Where is Otter Creek Reservoir?
- Otter Creek Reservoir is a lake in Piute County, Utah. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Otter Creek Reservoir?
- Otter Creek Reservoir in Piute County, Utah has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10 µg/L.
Is Otter Creek Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Otter Creek Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Otter Creek Reservoir?
- Otter Creek Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Otter Creek State Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Otter Creek Reservoir across LakeQuality
More Utah Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Utah
Eutrophic Lakes in Utah
Where this data comes from
22 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2014–2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Utah Department Of Environmental Quality
UTAHDWQ_WQX22 samples · 2014–2020
Analytical methods
- Field Measurements
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory