Steinaker Reservoir
Uintah County, Utah850 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
↑ up from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Oxygen depletion (low DO)
- #7 of 14 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Steinaker Reservoir in Uintah County, Utah has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.8 µg/L. Surface area: 850 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.9 ft
- Area
- 850 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 18.3 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 3.8 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Steinaker Reservoir’s letter
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Steinaker Reservoir is a 850-acre mesotrophic lake in Uintah County, Utah. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Steinaker Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited 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 A is nutrients and algae, 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.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.9 ft. Phosphorus 18.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.8 µg/L. TSI 45. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18.3 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 850 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
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
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit UT-L-14060010-006_00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 14 lakes in Uintah County
Nearby Lakes in Uintah County
Frequently asked questions about Steinaker Reservoir
Where is Steinaker Reservoir?
- Steinaker Reservoir is a lake in Uintah County, Utah. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Steinaker Reservoir?
- Steinaker Reservoir in Uintah County, Utah has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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?
- The A is nutrients and algae, 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.
Explore Steinaker Reservoir across LakeQuality
16.6 mi away · recorded at 86°F
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Utah's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Utah's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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 Utah Lake Rankings
Other Grade A 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)
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