University Lake
Orange County, North Carolina213 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- #6 of 7 in the county
- 32 ft max depth
University Lake in Orange County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 33.3 µg/L. Surface area: 213 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Max depth
- ~32 ft est.
- Area
- 213 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
Stays via Stay22
Stays near University Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near University Lake in Orange 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 University Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near University Lake
Prices for Sep 4–6, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Watch University Lake’s letter
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University Lake is a 213-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Orange County, North Carolina with an estimated average depth of about 32 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Orange County, University Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2024-02-22. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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. University Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 33.3 µg/L. TSI 62. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 40 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 33.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~32 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~16 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 213 acres |
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 University Lake.
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.
Fishing University Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.003 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -11.95 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +3.1 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
University Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the University Lake Dam (completed 1932), built primarily for water supply on the Morgan Creek; earth-type dam, 39 ft tall and 835 ft long.
- Surface area
- 213 ac
- Normal storage
- 4,030 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,836 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 29.8 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- UNC-Chapel Hill Environment, Health and Safety
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC00782 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
University Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NC16-41-2-(1.5) · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.57 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 7 lakes in Orange County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
University Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Orange County
Frequently asked questions about University Lake
Where is University Lake?
- University Lake is a lake in Orange 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 University Lake?
- University Lake in Orange County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 33.3 µg/L. Surface area: 213 acres.
Is University Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. University Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is University Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers University Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 32 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 213 acres.
Explore University Lake 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
156 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- USGS North Carolina Water Science Center
USGS-NC116 samples · 2020–2024 - North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ40 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Secchi disk method
- P, wu, WCA, persulfate CF color
- Pigments, algae, EPA445.0 w/ACTN
- Plant pigments, sonication & 445
- HACH 2100Q, NTRU
- WSSSOP
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)