Piute Reservoir
Piute County, UtahView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #2 of 8 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Piute Reservoir in Piute County, Utah has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 33.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.8 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 1 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 33.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 11.8 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Piute Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Piute Reservoir in Piute County, Utah — 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Piute Reservoir are listed below.
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Piute 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, Piute Reservoir ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Utah DWQ, last sampled 2020-08-12. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Piute 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. Piute Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), pH / acidity, temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 33.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 11.8 µg/L. TSI 62. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 33.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Recreation & Access
- Piute State ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Piute Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.134 m/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Piute Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Piute (completed 1938), built primarily for irrigation on the Sevier River; earth-type dam, 90 ft tall and 1,403 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 71,826 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 136,855 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2,440 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- PIUTE RESERVOIR & IRRIGATION COMPANY
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID UT00249 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Piute Reservoir is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit UT-L-16030001-011_00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 8 lakes in Piute County
Nearby Lakes in Piute County
Frequently asked questions about Piute Reservoir
Where is Piute Reservoir?
- Piute 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 Piute Reservoir?
- Piute Reservoir in Piute County, Utah has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 33.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.8 µg/L.
Is Piute Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Piute Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), pH / acidity, temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Piute Reservoir?
- Piute Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Piute State Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Piute Reservoir across LakeQuality
4 thermal springs within 22.4 mi, nearest Johnson Warm Spring
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Utah's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Other Grade D Lakes in Utah
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Where this data comes from
19 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_WQX19 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