Palisades Reservoir
Bonneville County, IdahoView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Oligotrophic
- #5 of 6 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Palisades Reservoir in Bonneville County, Idaho has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.9 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 12.5 ft
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 18 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 1.9 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Palisades Reservoir’s letter
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Palisades Reservoir is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Bonneville County, Idaho. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Bonneville County, Palisades Reservoir ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, IDEQ, last sampled 2023-06-29. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Palisades Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12.5 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Camping2 public campgrounds nearby
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.5 ft. Phosphorus 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.9 µg/L. TSI 41. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Recreation & Access
- Indian CreekPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Palisades Reservoir
- Mccoy Creek1.9 km
- Alpine Campground & Group Area4.2 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 Palisades Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.001 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.94 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.09 µg/L/yr | 5 |
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 6 lakes in Bonneville County
Nearby Lakes in Bonneville County
Frequently asked questions about Palisades Reservoir
Where is Palisades Reservoir?
- Palisades Reservoir is a lake in Bonneville County, Idaho. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Palisades Reservoir?
- Palisades Reservoir in Bonneville County, Idaho has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.9 µg/L.
Is Palisades Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Palisades Reservoir?
- Palisades Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Indian Creek. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Palisades Reservoir?
- Palisades Reservoir has 2 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Mccoy Creek, Alpine Campground & Group Area. 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 Palisades Reservoir across LakeQuality
4 thermal springs within 22.7 mi, nearest Alpine Warm Spring
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Idaho's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Idaho's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Idaho Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Idaho
Oligotrophic Lakes in Idaho
Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2013–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Bureau of Reclamation
1119USBR_WQX18 samples · 2013–2023
Analytical methods
- Depth, Secchi disk depth
- Zebra/Quagga Mussel APHA 10200G Modified
- Phosphorus by Single Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles