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LakeQuality

Sam Rayburn Reserv Lake

Nacogdoches County, TexasView mapDirections

C
Fair

Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.

Water temp
No reading
No gauge
Clarity
0.7 ft
Secchi · sampled 2026
Level
No reading
No gauge
Trend
Improving
5 years of samples
  • Mesotrophic
  • #2 of 2 in the county
  • Limited data

Sam Rayburn Reserv Lake in Nacogdoches County, Texas has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 0.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 160 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.9 µg/L.

Clarity
0.7 ft
Type
Mesotrophic
Phosphorus
160 µg/L
Chlorophyll-a
5.9 µg/L
Trend
Improving
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Watch Sam Rayburn Reserv Lake’s letter

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Sam Rayburn Reserv Lake is a mesotrophic 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. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Nacogdoches County, Sam Rayburn Reserv Lake ranks #2 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TCEQ, last sampled 2026-01-20. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.

Swimming Safety

Grade only

Limited 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.

Get alerts for Sam Rayburn Reserv Lake

Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)

Very murky, less than 0.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 160 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.9 µg/L. TSI 69. The letter is not a swimming clearance.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)0.7 ftNot graded
Phosphorus160 µg/LPoor
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)5.9 µg/LGood
Trophic State Index (TSI)69Mesotrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Fishing Sam Rayburn Reserv Lake

Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Improving+0.089 m/yr5
Phosphorus Improving-21.07 µg/L/yr3
Chlorophyll-a Improving-1.89 µg/L/yr3
See year-by-year chart →

County Ranking

Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Nacogdoches County

Nearby Lakes in Nacogdoches County

Frequently asked questions about Sam Rayburn Reserv Lake

Where is Sam Rayburn Reserv Lake?

Sam Rayburn Reserv 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 Reserv Lake?

Sam Rayburn Reserv Lake in Nacogdoches County, Texas has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 0.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 160 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.9 µg/L.

Is Sam Rayburn Reserv Lake safe to swim in?

The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.

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 QualityTCEQMAIN59 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.