Sandy Creek Reservoir
Randolph County, North Carolina90 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- #4 of 5 in the county
- 29 ft max depth
- Limited data
Sandy Creek Reservoir in Randolph County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 41.5 µg/L. Surface area: 90 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Max depth
- ~29 ft est.
- Area
- 90 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
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Stays near Sandy Creek Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sandy Creek Reservoir in Randolph County, North Carolina — 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 Sandy Creek Reservoir are listed below.
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Sandy Creek Reservoir is a 90-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Randolph County, North Carolina with an estimated average depth of about 29 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Randolph County, Sandy Creek Reservoir ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2023-09-21. 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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Sandy Creek Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 70 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 41.5 µg/L. TSI 66. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 70 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 41.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~29 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~16 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 90 acres |
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 Sandy Creek Reservoir.
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.
Fishing Sandy Creek Reservoir
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Sandy Creek Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Ramseur Water Supply Dam, built primarily for water supply on the Sandy Creek; concrete-type dam, 45 ft tall and 500 ft long.
- Surface area
- 90 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,620 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,872 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 57.73 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Town of Ramseur
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC03722 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Sandy Creek Reservoir is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NC17-16-(1)b · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 5 lakes in Randolph County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Sandy Creek Reservoir holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Randolph County
Frequently asked questions about Sandy Creek Reservoir
Where is Sandy Creek Reservoir?
- Sandy Creek Reservoir is a lake in Randolph County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Sandy Creek Reservoir?
- Sandy Creek Reservoir in Randolph County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 41.5 µg/L. Surface area: 90 acres.
Is Sandy Creek Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Sandy Creek Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Sandy Creek Reservoir?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Sandy Creek Reservoir, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 29 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 90 acres.
Explore Sandy Creek Reservoir across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
60 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2023. 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 · 2023
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)