Stephen Lake
Stephen Lake in Atlantic County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.8 µg/L. Surface area: 40 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.1 ft
- Area
- 40 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
Stephen Lake is a 40-acre mesotrophic lake in Atlantic County, New Jersey. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Atlantic County, Stephen Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2024-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Stephen Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria advisory
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Murky, only visible to about 4.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 13.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13.1 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Stephen Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Stephen Lake in Atlantic County, New Jersey — 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 Stephen Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Stephen Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Stephen Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Stephen Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Stephen Lake Dam, built primarily for recreation on the Stephen Creek; earth-type dam, 9 ft tall and 800 ft long.
- Surface area
- 40 ac
- Normal storage
- 130 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 11.1 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- NJDOT
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NJ00717 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Stephen Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NJ02040302050080-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.79 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 6 lakes in Atlantic County
Nearby Lakes in Atlantic County
Frequently asked questions about Stephen Lake
Where is Stephen Lake?
- Stephen Lake is a lake in Atlantic County, New Jersey. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Stephen Lake?
- Stephen Lake in Atlantic County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.8 µg/L. Surface area: 40 acres.
Is Stephen Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Stephen Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore Stephen Lake across LakeGrade
More New Jersey Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in New Jersey
Mesotrophic Lakes in New Jersey
Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.
Collected and reported by
- NJDEP Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring
NJDEP_BFBM23 samples · 2023–2024
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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