Phillps Lake
Baker County, OregonView mapDirections
Oregon DEQ publishes the water-quality measurements for Phillps Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- Public access
- Limited data
Phillps Lake in Baker County, Oregon has water-quality measurements published by Oregon DEQ, shown here as reported. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.2 µg/L.
Phillps Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Baker County, Oregon. 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 4 other monitored lakes in Baker County, Phillps Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Oregon DEQ, last sampled 2025-10-29. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Phillps Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Camping3 public campgrounds nearby
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Phillps Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO), toxic inorganics. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Phillps Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Phillps Lake
These are the measurements Oregon DEQ publishes for Phillps Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Chlorophyll-a 10.2 µg/L. TSI 53.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 10.2µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 53 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Phillps Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Recreation & Access
- Union CreekPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Phillps Lake
- Union Creek Campground0.4 km
- Millers Lane Campground3.6 km
- Southwest Shore Campground4.6 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
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Phillps Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Phillps Lake in Baker County, Oregon — 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Phillps Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Phillps Lake
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Fishing Phillps Lake
Water quality readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2024–2025). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+1.7 µg/L/yr2 years
EPA Impairment Status
Phillps Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Drinking water, Aquatic life, Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit OR_LK_1705020301_05_100588 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Baker County
Frequently asked questions about Phillps Lake
Where is Phillps Lake?
- Phillps Lake is a lake in Baker County, Oregon. Its water-quality measurements are published by Oregon DEQ and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Phillps Lake?
- Phillps Lake in Baker County, Oregon has water-quality measurements published by Oregon DEQ, shown here as reported. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.2 µg/L.
Is Phillps Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Phillps Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO), toxic inorganics. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Phillps Lake?
- Phillps Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Union Creek. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Phillps Lake?
- Phillps Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Oregon's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Are there campgrounds on Phillps Lake?
- Phillps Lake has 3 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Union Creek Campground, Millers Lane Campground, Southwest Shore Campground. 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 Phillps Lake across LakeQuality
4 thermal springs within 23.7 mi, nearest Sam O Spring
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Oregon's top lakes, each with its readings
Oregon's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Other Lakes in Oregon
Eutrophic Lakes in Oregon
Where this data comes from
8 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Department of Environmental Quality - State of Oregon
OREGONDEQ8 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles