Peak Creek Lake
Pulaski County, VirginiaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · PCBs
- #5 of 10 in the county
Peak Creek Lake in Pulaski County, Virginia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.6 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 5.6 ft
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 4.6 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Peak Creek Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Peak Creek Lake in Pulaski 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Peak Creek Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Virginia’s top lakes →
Watch Peak Creek Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Peak Creek Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Pulaski County, Virginia. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Pulaski County, Peak Creek Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Virginia DEQ, last sampled 2026-07-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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. Peak Creek Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 5.6 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.6 µg/L. TSI 48. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Fishing Peak Creek Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 15 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.043 m/yr | 15 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.39 µg/L/yr | 15 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.41 µg/L/yr | 15 |
EPA Impairment Status
Peak Creek Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit VAW-N17L_PKC02A10 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.09 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 10 lakes in Pulaski County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Peak Creek Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Pulaski County
Frequently asked questions about Peak Creek Lake
Where is Peak Creek Lake?
- Peak Creek Lake is a lake in Pulaski County, Virginia. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Peak Creek Lake?
- Peak Creek Lake in Pulaski County, Virginia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.6 µg/L.
Is Peak Creek Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Peak Creek Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Peak Creek Lake across LakeQuality
9.4 mi away · recorded at 72°F
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Virginia's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Virginia's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Virginia Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Virginia
Mesotrophic Lakes in Virginia
Where this data comes from
392 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21VASWCB392 samples · 2012–2026
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