Sam Rayburn Lake
Nacogdoches County, TexasView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↑ up from D at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 2 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Sam Rayburn Lake in Nacogdoches County, Texas has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 0.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 130 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.2 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 0.8 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 130 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 10.2 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Sam Rayburn Lake’s letter
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Sam Rayburn Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Nacogdoches County, Texas. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Nacogdoches County, Sam Rayburn Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TCEQ, last sampled 2026-01-20. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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)
Very murky, less than 0.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 130 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 10.2 µg/L. TSI 69. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 130 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Fishing Sam Rayburn Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.089 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -21.07 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.89 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Nacogdoches County
Nearby Lakes in Nacogdoches County
Frequently asked questions about Sam Rayburn Lake
Where is Sam Rayburn Lake?
- Sam Rayburn Lake is a lake in Nacogdoches County, Texas. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Sam Rayburn Lake?
- Sam Rayburn Lake in Nacogdoches County, Texas has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 0.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 130 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.2 µg/L.
Is Sam Rayburn Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Sam Rayburn Lake across LakeQuality
More Texas Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Texas
Eutrophic Lakes in Texas
Where this data comes from
59 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
TCEQMAIN59 samples · 2020–2026
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.