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LakeQuality

Scofield Reservoir

Carbon County, Utah2,810 acresView mapDirections

D
Nutrient-rich

Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.

↓ down from B at the last regrade

Water temp
No reading
No gauge
Clarity
12.5 ft
Secchi · sampled 2020
Level
No reading
No gauge
Trend
Improving
10 years of samples
  • Eutrophic
  • Impaired · Algal growth
  • #4 of 4 in the county
  • Limited data

Scofield Reservoir in Carbon County, Utah has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.6 µg/L. Surface area: 2810 acres.

Clarity
12.5 ft
Area
2,810 acres
Type
Eutrophic
Phosphorus
26.3 µg/L
Chlorophyll-a
7.6 µg/L
Trend
Improving
Loading map…

Stays via Stay22

Stays near Scofield Reservoir

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Scofield Reservoir in Carbon County, Utah — 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 Scofield Reservoir are listed below.

Top-rated places to stay near Scofield Reservoir

Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

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Scofield Reservoir is a 2,810-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Carbon County, Utah. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2020. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Carbon County, Scofield Reservoir ranks #4 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Utah DWQ, last sampled 2020-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.

What Scofield Reservoir is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

  • Clear water12.5 ft of visibility
  • Big water2,810 acres

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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Scofield Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.

Get alerts for Scofield Reservoir

Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)

Good clarity, visible to about 12.5 ft. Phosphorus 26.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 7.6 µg/L. TSI 48. The letter is not a swimming clearance.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)12.5 ftNot graded
Phosphorus26.3 µg/LFair
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)7.6 µg/LPoor
Trophic State Index (TSI)48Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Surface Area2,810 acres

No bathymetric survey has been published for Scofield Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.

Fishing Scofield Reservoir

Based on 10 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Improving+0.299 m/yr10
Phosphorus Declining+8.42 µg/L/yr4
Chlorophyll-a Improving-3.09 µg/L/yr5
See year-by-year chart →

Reservoir Info (USACE NID)

Scofield Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Scofield Dam (completed 1946), built primarily for irrigation on the Price River; earth-type dam, 125 ft tall and 575 ft long.

Surface area
2,810 ac
Normal storage
73,600 ac-ft
Max storage
73,600 ac-ft
Drainage area
156.18 sq mi
Hazard class
High
Owner
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID UT10133 · Operator website

EPA Impairment Status

Scofield Reservoir is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Algal growthNutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)Oxygen depletion (low DO)pH / acidity

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit UT-L-14060007-005_00 · Official waterbody report

County Ranking

Ranked #4 of 4 lakes in Carbon County

Nearby Lakes in Carbon County

Frequently asked questions about Scofield Reservoir

Where is Scofield Reservoir?

Scofield Reservoir is a lake in Carbon County, Utah. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.

What is the water quality grade for Scofield Reservoir?

Scofield Reservoir in Carbon County, Utah has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.6 µg/L. Surface area: 2810 acres.

Is Scofield Reservoir safe to swim in?

The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Scofield Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.

Where this data comes from

85 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2013–2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

  • Utah Department Of Environmental QualityUTAHDWQ_WQX85 samples · 2013–2020

Analytical methods

  • Field Measurements
  • Phosphorus by Colorimetry
  • 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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.

Other records on this page

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database