Wall Canyon Reservoir
Washoe County, Nevada133 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Metals (other than mercury)
- #10 of 10 in the county
- Limited data
Wall Canyon Reservoir in Washoe County, Nevada has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 120 µg/L. Surface area: 133 acres.
- Area
- 133 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 120 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Stays near Wall Canyon Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wall Canyon Reservoir in Washoe County, Nevada — 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 Wall Canyon Reservoir are listed below.
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Watch Wall Canyon Reservoir’s letter
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Wall Canyon Reservoir is a 133-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Washoe County, Nevada. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2019. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Washoe County, Wall Canyon Reservoir ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDEP, last sampled 2019-07-24. 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. Wall Canyon Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for metals (other than mercury), nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 120 µg/L. TSI 73. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 120 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 73 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 133 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Wall Canyon Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Wall Canyon Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -14.4 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Wall Canyon Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Wall Creek Dam Upper, built primarily for irrigation on the Wall Creek; earth-type dam, 75 ft tall and 1,220 ft long.
- Surface area
- 133 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,800 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,700 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 80.4 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- DUCK LAKE RANCH LLC
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NV00023 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.03 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Wall Canyon Reservoir is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NV01-NW-04-B_00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 10 lakes in Washoe County
Nearby Lakes in Washoe County
Frequently asked questions about Wall Canyon Reservoir
Where is Wall Canyon Reservoir?
- Wall Canyon Reservoir is a lake in Washoe County, Nevada. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Wall Canyon Reservoir?
- Wall Canyon Reservoir in Washoe County, Nevada has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 120 µg/L. Surface area: 133 acres.
Is Wall Canyon Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Wall Canyon Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for metals (other than mercury), nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Wall Canyon Reservoir across LakeQuality
3 thermal springs within 15 mi, nearest Bare Ranch Spring
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Nevada's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
7 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2017–2019. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
21NEV1_WQX7 samples · 2017–2019
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus by Ascorbic Acid
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