Upper Blackwater River Lake
Franklin County, VirginiaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #13 of 13 in the county
Upper Blackwater River Lake in Franklin County, Virginia has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 17.3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 40 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 17.3 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
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Stays near Upper Blackwater River Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Upper Blackwater River Lake in Franklin County, Virginia — 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 Upper Blackwater River Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Upper Blackwater River Lake
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Watch Upper Blackwater River Lake’s letter
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Upper Blackwater River Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Franklin County, Virginia. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2026. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Franklin County, Upper Blackwater River Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Virginia DEQ, last sampled 2026-05-19. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria advisory
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. Upper Blackwater River Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, pathogens (E. coli, fecal), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 17.3 µg/L. TSI 59. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 40 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 17.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Fishing Upper Blackwater River Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 14 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.016 m/yr | 14 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.43 µg/L/yr | 14 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.25 µg/L/yr | 14 |
EPA Impairment Status
Upper Blackwater River Lake 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 VAW-L10L_BWR03B14 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.08 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 13 lakes in Franklin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Upper Blackwater River Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Franklin County
Frequently asked questions about Upper Blackwater River Lake
Where is Upper Blackwater River Lake?
- Upper Blackwater River Lake is a lake in Franklin County, Virginia. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Upper Blackwater River Lake?
- Upper Blackwater River Lake in Franklin County, Virginia has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 17.3 µg/L.
Is Upper Blackwater River Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Upper Blackwater River Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, pathogens (E. coli, fecal), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Upper Blackwater River Lake across LakeQuality
2.7 mi away · cable-pulled, no boat wake
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Virginia's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
399 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21VASWCB399 samples · 2012–2026
Analytical methods
- Tyler, John. 1968. The secchi disk, Limnology and Oceanograpy, 13(1):1-6.
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 446.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophylls and Pheopigments in Phytoplankton by Spectrophotometry
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database