Watauga River Lake
Washington County, TennesseeView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
Watauga River Lake in Washington County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 36.8 µg/L.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 36.8 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Watauga River Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Watauga River Lake in Washington 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Watauga River Lake are listed below.
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Watch Watauga River Lake’s letter
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Watauga River Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Washington County, Tennessee. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TDEC, last sampled 2022-06-08. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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. Phosphorus 36.8 µg/L. TSI 56. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 36.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Fishing Watauga River Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.91 µg/L/yr | 4 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Washington County
Nearby Lakes in Washington County
Frequently asked questions about Watauga River Lake
Where is Watauga River Lake?
- Watauga River Lake is a lake in Washington County, Tennessee. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Watauga River Lake?
- Watauga River Lake in Washington County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 36.8 µg/L.
Is Watauga River Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Watauga River Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Tennessee's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2016–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- TDEC Division of Water Resources
TDECWR_WQX32 samples · 2016–2022
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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.