Roanoke Rapids Lake
Halifax County, North Carolina4,600 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- 43 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Roanoke Rapids Lake in Halifax County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6 µg/L. Surface area: 4600 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.1 ft
- Max depth
- ~43 ft est.
- Area
- 4,600 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Roanoke Rapids Lake’s letter
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Roanoke Rapids Lake is a 4,600-acre mesotrophic lake in Halifax County, North Carolina with an estimated average depth of about 43 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2024-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Roanoke Rapids Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Big water4,600 acres
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 6.1 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6 µg/L. TSI 51. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~43 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~27 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 4,600 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. North Carolina has not published bathymetry for Roanoke Rapids Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- GastonPublic
- Fifth Street LandingPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Roanoke Rapids Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Roanoke Rapids Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Roanoke Rapids (completed 1955), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Roanoke; gravity-type dam, 72 ft tall and 3,050 ft long.
- Surface area
- 4,600 ac
- Normal storage
- 77,140 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 80,690 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 8,400 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Virginia Electric and Power Company
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC00827 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Halifax County
Nearby Lakes in Halifax County
Frequently asked questions about Roanoke Rapids Lake
Where is Roanoke Rapids Lake?
- Roanoke Rapids Lake is a lake in Halifax County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Roanoke Rapids Lake?
- Roanoke Rapids Lake in Halifax County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6 µg/L. Surface area: 4600 acres.
Is Roanoke Rapids Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Roanoke Rapids Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Roanoke Rapids Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 43 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 4600 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Roanoke Rapids Lake?
- Roanoke Rapids Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Gaston, Fifth Street Landing. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Roanoke Rapids Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
60 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ60 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- WSSSOP
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory