Phelps Lake
Washington County, North CarolinaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- 318 ft max depth
Phelps Lake in Washington County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.6 ft
- Max depth
- ~318 ft est.
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Watch Phelps Lake’s letter
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Phelps Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Washington County, North Carolina with an estimated average depth of about 318 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2025-09-24. 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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Phosphorus 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.2 µg/L. TSI 56. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 50 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~318 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~12 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. North Carolina has not published bathymetry for Phelps Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Phelps Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Washington County
Nearby Lakes in Washington County
Frequently asked questions about Phelps Lake
Where is Phelps Lake?
- Phelps Lake is a lake in Washington County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Phelps Lake?
- Phelps Lake in Washington County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L.
Is Phelps Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Phelps Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Phelps Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 318 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Explore Phelps Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
75 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ75 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- WSSSOP
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)