Sutton Lake
New Hanover County, North Carolina1,185 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
↑ up from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 3 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Sutton Lake in New Hanover County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.2 µg/L. Surface area: 1185 acres.
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Area
- 1,185 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Sutton Lake is a 1,185-acre mesotrophic lake in New Hanover County, North Carolina. 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 2 other monitored lakes in New Hanover County, Sutton Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2023-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Sutton Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Big water1,185 acres
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.2 µg/L. TSI 46. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1,185 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Sutton Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Sutton LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Sutton Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Sutton Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Sutton 1972 Cooling Lake Dam (completed 1972), built primarily for other on the Cape Fear River; earth-type dam, 19 ft tall and 20,100 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,185 ac
- Max storage
- 6,900 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Duke Energy Corporation
All listed purposes: Other;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC05949 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in New Hanover County
Nearby Lakes in New Hanover County
Frequently asked questions about Sutton Lake
Where is Sutton Lake?
- Sutton Lake is a lake in New Hanover County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Sutton Lake?
- Sutton Lake in New Hanover County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.2 µg/L. Surface area: 1185 acres.
Is Sutton Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Sutton Lake?
- Sutton Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sutton Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Sutton Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
North Carolina's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More North Carolina Lake Rankings
Ranked by overall water quality grade
Top 25 by Secchi water clarity
Grade A/B + low algae filter
Panfish-rich, public access
Full state directory
Other Grade A Lakes in North Carolina
Mesotrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ20 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- WSSSOP
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 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.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory