Sta Lake
York County, Virginia351 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 7 in the county
Sta Lake in York County, Virginia has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.1 µg/L. Surface area: 351 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.9 ft
- Area
- 351 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 4.1 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Sta Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sta Lake in York County, Virginia — 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 Sta Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 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 Virginia’s top lakes →
Watch Sta Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Sta Lake is a 351-acre mesotrophic lake in York County, Virginia. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in York County, Sta Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Virginia DEQ, last sampled 2025-09-25. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.1 µg/L. TSI 47. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 351 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Sta Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Sta Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.097 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.16 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.01 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Sta Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Waller Mill Dam, built primarily for water supply on the Queens Creek; earth-type dam, 40 ft tall and 1,190 ft long.
- Surface area
- 351 ac
- Normal storage
- 4,603 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 7,274 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6.87 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- City of Williamsburg
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID VA199003 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.84 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 7 lakes in York County
Nearby Lakes in York County
Frequently asked questions about Sta Lake
Where is Sta Lake?
- Sta Lake is a lake in York County, Virginia. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Sta Lake?
- Sta Lake in York County, Virginia has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.1 µg/L. Surface area: 351 acres.
Is Sta Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Sta Lake across LakeQuality
More Virginia Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Virginia
Mesotrophic Lakes in Virginia
Where this data comes from
146 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2013–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21VASWCB146 samples · 2013–2025
Analytical methods
- Tyler, John. 1968. The secchi disk, Limnology and Oceanograpy, 13(1):1-6.
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
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.