Tuckertown Reservoir
Rowan County, North Carolina2,560 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 3 in the county
- 38 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Tuckertown Reservoir in Rowan County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 27 µg/L. Surface area: 2560 acres.
- Max depth
- ~38 ft est.
- Area
- 2,560 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Tuckertown Reservoir’s letter
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Tuckertown Reservoir is a 2,560-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Rowan County, North Carolina with an estimated average depth of about 38 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Rowan County, Tuckertown Reservoir ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2021-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Tuckertown Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Big water2,560 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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 27 µg/L. TSI 62. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 50 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 27 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~38 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 2,560 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. North Carolina has not published bathymetry for Tuckertown Reservoir.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Gar Creek Boat LaunchPublic
- Tuckertown Reservoir Boat RampPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Tuckertown Reservoir
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Tuckertown Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Tuckertown (completed 1962), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Yadkin; gravity-type dam, 80 ft tall and 1,370 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,560 ac
- Normal storage
- 6,897 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 6,897 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4,080 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Cube Yadkin Generation LLC
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC00550 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Rowan County
Nearby Lakes in Rowan County
Frequently asked questions about Tuckertown Reservoir
Where is Tuckertown Reservoir?
- Tuckertown Reservoir is a lake in Rowan County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Tuckertown Reservoir?
- Tuckertown Reservoir in Rowan County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 27 µg/L. Surface area: 2560 acres.
Is Tuckertown Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Tuckertown Reservoir?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Tuckertown Reservoir, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 38 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 2560 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Tuckertown Reservoir?
- Tuckertown Reservoir has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Gar Creek Boat Launch, Tuckertown Reservoir Boat Ramp. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Tuckertown Reservoir across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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 D Lakes in North Carolina
Eutrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
30 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ30 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory