Steinaker Reservoir
Uintah County, Utah850 acresView mapDirections
Utah DWQ publishes the water-quality measurements for Steinaker Reservoir. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Oxygen depletion (low DO)
- Public access
- Limited data
Steinaker Reservoir in Uintah County, Utah has water-quality measurements published by Utah DWQ, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.8 µg/L. Surface area: 850 acres.
Steinaker Reservoir is a 850-acre mesotrophic lake in Uintah County, Utah. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Uintah County, Steinaker Reservoir ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Utah DWQ, last sampled 2023-08-22. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Steinaker Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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. Steinaker Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO), temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Steinaker Reservoir is safe to swim in today is a call for the Utah Division of Water Quality and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Steinaker Reservoir
These are the measurements Utah DWQ publishes for Steinaker Reservoir, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.9 ft. Phosphorus 18.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.8 µg/L. TSI 45.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 8.9ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 18.3µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 3.8µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 45 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Steinaker Reservoir
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Lake Details
Surface area
850 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Utah DWQ
No bathymetric survey has been published for Steinaker Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Steinaker State ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Steinaker Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Steinaker Reservoir in Uintah 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Steinaker 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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Steinaker Reservoir → · more Utah lake trips
Follow Steinaker Reservoir’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fishing Steinaker Reservoir
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Steinaker Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Steinaker Dam (completed 1961), built primarily for irrigation on the Ashley Creek Offstream; earth-type dam, 162 ft tall and 1,997 ft long.
- Surface area
- 850 ac
- Normal storage
- 38,173 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 40,358 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 20.88 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID UT10113 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Steinaker Reservoir is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit UT-L-14060010-006_00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Uintah County
Frequently asked questions about Steinaker Reservoir
Where is Steinaker Reservoir?
- Steinaker Reservoir is a lake in Uintah County, Utah. Its water-quality measurements are published by Utah DWQ and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Steinaker Reservoir?
- Steinaker Reservoir in Uintah County, Utah has water-quality measurements published by Utah DWQ, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.8 µg/L. Surface area: 850 acres.
Is Steinaker Reservoir safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Steinaker Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO), temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Steinaker Reservoir?
- Steinaker Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Steinaker State Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Steinaker Reservoir?
- Steinaker Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Utah's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Steinaker Reservoir across LakeQuality
Planning a trip around Dinosaur?
Steinaker Reservoir is about 31 miles from Dinosaur National Monument. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Dinosaur →More lakes in Utah
Other Lakes in Utah
Mesotrophic Lakes in Utah
Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Utah Department Of Environmental Quality
UTAHDWQ_WQX15 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field Measurements
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory