State Park Lake
Pulaski County, VirginiaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Oxygen depletion (low DO)
- #7 of 10 in the county
- Public access
State Park Lake in Pulaski County, Virginia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.9 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 7.9 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch State Park Lake’s letter
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State Park Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Pulaski County, Virginia. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Pulaski County, State Park Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Virginia DEQ, last sampled 2026-07-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What State Park Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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. State Park Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for oxygen depletion (low DO), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 7.9 µg/L. TSI 49. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Recreation & Access
- Claytor DamPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing State Park Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 15 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.038 m/yr | 15 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.36 µg/L/yr | 15 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.07 µg/L/yr | 15 |
EPA Impairment Status
State Park Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit VAW-N16L_NEW01B14 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.66 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 10 lakes in Pulaski County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
State Park Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Pulaski County
Frequently asked questions about State Park Lake
Where is State Park Lake?
- State Park Lake is a lake in Pulaski County, Virginia. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for State Park Lake?
- State Park Lake in Pulaski County, Virginia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.9 µg/L.
Is State Park Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. State Park Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for oxygen depletion (low DO), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on State Park Lake?
- State Park Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Claytor Dam. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore State Park Lake across LakeQuality
22 mi away · 69 ft
16.5 mi away · recorded at 85°F
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Virginia's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Virginia's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Virginia Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Virginia
Eutrophic Lakes in Virginia
Where this data comes from
700 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21VASWCB700 samples · 2012–2026
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
- 446.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophylls and Pheopigments in Phytoplankton by Spectrophotometry
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory