Squaw Creek Reservoir
Washoe County, Nevada48 acresView mapDirections
NDEP publishes the water-quality measurements for Squaw Creek Reservoir. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Metals (other than mercury)
- Limited data
Squaw Creek Reservoir in Washoe County, Nevada has water-quality measurements published by NDEP, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 60 µg/L. Surface area: 48 acres.
Squaw Creek Reservoir is a 48-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Washoe County, Nevada. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Washoe County, Squaw Creek Reservoir ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDEP, last sampled 2021-07-08. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Squaw Creek Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for metals (other than mercury), nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Squaw Creek Reservoir is safe to swim in today is a call for the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Squaw Creek Reservoir
These are the measurements NDEP publishes for Squaw Creek Reservoir, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 60 µg/L. TSI 63.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 60µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 63 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Squaw Creek Reservoir
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Lake Details
Surface area
48 acres
No bathymetric survey has been published for Squaw Creek Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Squaw Creek Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Squaw Creek Reservoir in Washoe County, Nevada — 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Squaw Creek Reservoir
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Nevada’s top lakes →
Follow Squaw Creek Reservoir’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fishing Squaw Creek Reservoir
Water quality readings over time
3 seasons of samples on record (2018–2021). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Phosphorus
Improving-22.86 µg/L/yr3 years
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Squaw Creek Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Squaw Creek Dam, built primarily for irrigation on the Squaw Creek; earth-type dam, 65 ft tall and 560 ft long.
- Surface area
- 48 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,200 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,450 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 58 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- BRIGHT HOLLAND CO. (TODD JAKSICK)
All listed purposes: Irrigation;Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NV00036 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Squaw 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
Designated uses not supporting: Drinking water, Aquatic life, Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NV02-BL-02-B_00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Washoe County
Frequently asked questions about Squaw Creek Reservoir
Where is Squaw Creek Reservoir?
- Squaw Creek Reservoir is a lake in Washoe County, Nevada. Its water-quality measurements are published by NDEP and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Squaw Creek Reservoir?
- Squaw Creek Reservoir in Washoe County, Nevada has water-quality measurements published by NDEP, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 60 µg/L. Surface area: 48 acres.
Is Squaw Creek Reservoir safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Squaw Creek Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for metals (other than mercury), nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Squaw Creek Reservoir across LakeQuality
4 thermal springs within 19.3 mi, nearest Fly Ranch (Wards) Hot Springs
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Nevada's top lakes, each with its readings
Nevada's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Nevada
Other Lakes in Nevada
Eutrophic Lakes in Nevada
Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2018–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
21NEV1_WQX6 samples · 2018–2021
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus by Ascorbic Acid
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database