Turner Reservoir
Chatham County, North Carolina18 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- #5 of 7 in the county
- Limited data
Turner Reservoir in Chatham County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 75 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 59 µg/L. Surface area: 18 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.6 ft
- Area
- 18 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
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Stays near Turner Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Turner Reservoir in Chatham County, North Carolina — 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Turner Reservoir are listed below.
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Turner Reservoir is a 18-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Chatham County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Chatham County, Turner Reservoir ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2023-09-21. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Turner Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 75 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 59 µg/L. TSI 69. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 75 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 59 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Turner Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Turner Reservoir
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Turner Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Clapp Lake Dam (completed 1953), built primarily for recreation on the Lacey Creek; earth-type dam, 25 ft tall and 510 ft long.
- Surface area
- 18 ac
- Normal storage
- 208 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 250 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.48 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Martha F Fox
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC00617 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.83 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Turner Reservoir 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 NC17-43-(5.5)b · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.34 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 7 lakes in Chatham County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Turner Reservoir holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Chatham County
Frequently asked questions about Turner Reservoir
Where is Turner Reservoir?
- Turner Reservoir is a lake in Chatham County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Turner Reservoir?
- Turner Reservoir in Chatham County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 75 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 59 µg/L. Surface area: 18 acres.
Is Turner Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Turner Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Turner Reservoir across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
100 measurements from 5 monitoring stations, 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
21NC03WQ100 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 (5)
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