Red Lake
Red Lake in Alpine County, California has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 61.5 µg/L. Surface area: 85 acres.
- Area
- 85 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Red Lake →
Red Lake is a 85-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Alpine County, California. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2021.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2021-09-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 61.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 61.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Red Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Red Lake in Alpine County, California — 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 Red Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Red Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 85 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Red Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Red Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Red Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Red Lake (completed 1924), built primarily for water supply on the Red Lake Creek; earth-type dam, 35 ft tall and 1,920 ft long.
- Surface area
- 85 ac
- Max storage
- 1,410 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Irrigation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID CA00631 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Alpine County
Nearby Lakes in Alpine County
Frequently asked questions about Red Lake
Where is Red Lake?
- Red Lake is a lake in Alpine County, California. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Red Lake?
- Red Lake in Alpine County, California has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 61.5 µg/L. Surface area: 85 acres.
Is Red Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Red Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore Red Lake across LakeGrade
More California Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in California
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Lake County · Nutrient-rich
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Marin County · Nutrient-rich
Lake County · Nutrient-rich
Lake County · Nutrient-rich
Eutrophic Lakes in California
Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.
Collected and reported by
- California State Water Resources Control Board
CEDEN4 samples · 2020–2021
Analytical methods
- EPA 365.3
- SM 4500-P BE
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.