Powhatan Lake
Powhatan County, Virginia35 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
Powhatan Lake in Powhatan County, Virginia has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 23.4 µg/L. Surface area: 35 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Area
- 35 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 40 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 23.4 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Powhatan Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Powhatan Lake in Powhatan 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Powhatan Lake are listed below.
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Watch Powhatan Lake’s letter
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Powhatan Lake is a 35-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Powhatan County, Virginia. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Virginia DEQ, last sampled 2024-10-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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. Powhatan Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 23.4 µg/L. TSI 61. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 40 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 23.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Powhatan Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Powhatan Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.008 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.09 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.21 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Powhatan Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Upper Powhatan Dam, built primarily for recreation on the Stegers Creek; earth-type dam, 27 ft tall and 435 ft long.
- Surface area
- 35 ac
- Normal storage
- 210 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 750 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4.92 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR)
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID VA145001 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.41 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Powhatan Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit VAP-H33L_STG01A12 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.38 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Powhatan County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Powhatan Lake holds Grade D. 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 Powhatan County
Frequently asked questions about Powhatan Lake
Where is Powhatan Lake?
- Powhatan Lake is a lake in Powhatan County, Virginia. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Powhatan Lake?
- Powhatan Lake in Powhatan County, Virginia has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 23.4 µg/L. Surface area: 35 acres.
Is Powhatan Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Powhatan Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Powhatan Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
206 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2017–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21VASWCB206 samples · 2017–2024
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
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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