Upper Artichoke Reservoir
Essex County, Massachusetts131 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↑ up from F at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #7 of 7 in the county
- 26 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Upper Artichoke Reservoir in Essex County, Massachusetts has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 29.2 µg/L. Surface area: 130.7 acres.
- Max depth
- ~26 ft est.
- Area
- 131 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Chlorophyll-a
- 29.2 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Upper Artichoke Reservoir is a 131-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Essex County, Massachusetts with an estimated average depth of about 26 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2017. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Essex County, Upper Artichoke Reservoir ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, MassDEP, last sampled 2017-09-21. 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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Chlorophyll-a 29.2 µg/L. TSI 64. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 29.2 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~26 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~13 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 131 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Massachusetts has not published bathymetry for Upper Artichoke 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.
Fishing Upper Artichoke Reservoir
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Upper Artichoke Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Upper Artichoke Reservoir Dam (completed 1920), built primarily for water supply on the Artichoke River; concrete-type dam, 15 ft tall and 200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 130.7 ac
- Normal storage
- 800 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,494 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 5.3 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- City of Newburyport
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MA00189 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 7 lakes in Essex County
Nearby Lakes in Essex County
Frequently asked questions about Upper Artichoke Reservoir
Where is Upper Artichoke Reservoir?
- Upper Artichoke Reservoir is a lake in Essex County, Massachusetts. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Upper Artichoke Reservoir?
- Upper Artichoke Reservoir in Essex County, Massachusetts has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 29.2 µg/L. Surface area: 130.7 acres.
Is Upper Artichoke Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Upper Artichoke Reservoir?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Upper Artichoke Reservoir, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 26 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 130.7 acres.
Explore Upper Artichoke Reservoir across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Massachusetts's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Other Grade D Lakes in Massachusetts
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Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2017. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
MASSDEP3 samples · 2017
Analytical methods
- 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)