Recapture Reservoir
San Juan County, UtahView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
↑ up from B at the last regrade
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Oxygen depletion (low DO)
- #1 of 10 in the county
Recapture Reservoir in San Juan County, Utah has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.7 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 8.9 ft
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 15.1 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 1.7 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Watch Recapture Reservoir’s letter
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Recapture Reservoir is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in San Juan County, Utah. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in San Juan County, Recapture Reservoir ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Utah DWQ, last sampled 2025-08-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Recapture Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO), temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.9 ft. Phosphorus 15.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.7 µg/L. TSI 42. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15.1 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Fishing Recapture Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.125 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.87 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.1 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Recapture Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Recapture Creek (completed 1984), built primarily for irrigation on the Recapture Creek; earth-type dam, 142 ft tall and 2,900 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 8,820 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 12,400 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 61 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- SAN JUAN WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID UT00517 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.37 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Recapture 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-14080201-007_00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 10 lakes in San Juan County
Nearby Lakes in San Juan County
Frequently asked questions about Recapture Reservoir
Where is Recapture Reservoir?
- Recapture Reservoir is a lake in San Juan County, Utah. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Recapture Reservoir?
- Recapture Reservoir in San Juan County, Utah has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.7 µg/L.
Is Recapture Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Recapture Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO), temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Recapture Reservoir across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Utah's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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Other Grade A Lakes in Utah
Oligotrophic Lakes in Utah
Where this data comes from
71 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Utah Department Of Environmental Quality
UTAHDWQ_WQX71 samples · 2012–2025
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