Willow Lake
Jackson County, OregonView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #3 of 7 in the county
- 19 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Willow Lake in Jackson County, Oregon has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L.
- Max depth
- ~19 ft est.
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Chlorophyll-a
- 2.2 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Willow Lake’s letter
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Willow Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Jackson County, Oregon with an estimated average depth of about 19 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Willow Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Oregon DEQ, last sampled 2025-08-27. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Willow Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Camping1 public campground nearby
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Willow Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Chlorophyll-a 2.2 µg/L. TSI 38. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.2 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~19 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Oregon has not published bathymetry for Willow Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Willow Lake County ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Willow Lake
- Whiskey Springs Campground4.1 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Willow Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Willow Lake 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 OR_LK_1710030704_02_100245 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 7 lakes in Jackson County
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Frequently asked questions about Willow Lake
Where is Willow Lake?
- Willow Lake is a lake in Jackson County, Oregon. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Willow Lake?
- Willow Lake in Jackson County, Oregon has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L.
Is Willow Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Willow Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Willow Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Willow Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 19 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Willow Lake?
- Willow Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Willow Lake County Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Willow Lake?
- Willow Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Whiskey Springs Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Willow Lake across LakeQuality
18.8 mi away · 173 ft
22.6 mi away · recorded at 95°F
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Oregon's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Oregon's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
Planning a trip around Crater Lake?
Willow Lake is about 36 miles from Crater Lake National Park. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Crater Lake →More Oregon Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Oregon
Mesotrophic Lakes in Oregon
Where this data comes from
7 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Department of Environmental Quality - State of Oregon
OREGONDEQ7 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles