Watauga Lake
Watauga Lake in Carter County, Tennessee is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Surface area: 6353 acres.
- Area
- 6,353 acres
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Why Watauga Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Watauga Lake, no water-quality sampling on record for this lake.
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by TDEC and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Watauga Lake is a 6,353-acre lake in Carter County, Tennessee. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TDEC, last sampled recent years. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Watauga Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedElevated nutrients
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Watauga Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Trophic State Index: undefined.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) |
Where to stay near Watauga Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Watauga Lake in Carter County, Tennessee — 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Watauga Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 6,353 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Watauga Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Watauga Lakeshores MarinaSemi-private
- Fish Springs MarinaSemi-private
- Cove Ridge Yacht Club and MarinaSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Watauga Lake
Nearby Lakes in Carter County
Frequently asked questions about Watauga Lake
Where is Watauga Lake?
- Watauga Lake is a lake in Carter County, Tennessee. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no water-quality sampling on record for this lake.
What is the water quality grade for Watauga Lake?
- Watauga Lake in Carter County, Tennessee is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Surface area: 6353 acres.
Is Watauga Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Watauga Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Watauga Lake?
- Watauga Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Watauga Lakeshores Marina, Fish Springs Marina, Cove Ridge Yacht Club and Marina.
Explore Watauga Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
Measurements for Watauga Lake come from the EPA Water Quality Portal. Per-sample source details are not recorded for this lake.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory