West Fk Eno R Reservoir
Orange County, North Carolina272 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #3 of 7 in the county
West Fk Eno R Reservoir in Orange County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.9 µg/L. Surface area: 271.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.8 ft
- Area
- 272 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Stays near West Fk Eno R Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near West Fk Eno R Reservoir in Orange County, North Carolina — 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 West Fk Eno R Reservoir are listed below.
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Watch West Fk Eno R Reservoir’s letter
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West Fk Eno R Reservoir is a 272-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Orange County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Orange County, West Fk Eno R Reservoir ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2024-02-23. 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)
Murky, only visible to about 3.8 ft. Phosphorus 35.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 14.9 µg/L. TSI 57. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 35.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14.9 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 272 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for West Fk Eno R Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing West Fk Eno R Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.008 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.89 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.44 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
West Fk Eno R Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Hillsborough Water Supply Dam (completed 2000), built primarily for water supply on the W. Fork Eno River; earth-type dam, 65 ft tall and 1,699 ft long.
- Surface area
- 271.5 ac
- Normal storage
- 7,032 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 24,061 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 9.4 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Town of Hillsborough
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC05793 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.09 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 7 lakes in Orange County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
West Fk Eno R Reservoir holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Orange County
Frequently asked questions about West Fk Eno R Reservoir
Where is West Fk Eno R Reservoir?
- West Fk Eno R Reservoir is a lake in Orange County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for West Fk Eno R Reservoir?
- West Fk Eno R Reservoir in Orange County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.9 µg/L. Surface area: 271.5 acres.
Is West Fk Eno R Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore West Fk Eno R Reservoir across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
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Where this data comes from
119 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- USGS North Carolina Water Science Center
USGS-NC119 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Secchi disk method
- P, wu, WCA, persulfate CF color
- Pigments, algae, EPA445.0 w/ACTN
- Plant pigments, sonication & 445
- HACH 2100Q, NTRU
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.