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LakeQuality

Data Report · Updated July 2026

The State of North Carolina’s Lakes 2026

Of 151 monitored lakes in North Carolina, 28.5% earn a water-quality grade of A or B and 42.4% score D or F (average grade C). Wolf Creek Reservoir is the cleanest;

151
Monitored lakes graded
C
Average grade
28.5%
Grade A or B
0%
On impaired list

North Carolina grade distribution

A
B
C
D
F
A: 12 (7.9%)B: 31 (20.5%)C: 44 (29.1%)D: 50 (33.1%)F: 14 (9.3%)

Cleanest lakes in North Carolina

Highest combined water-quality score, 2026.

  1. 1.AWolf Creek Reservoir — Jackson County19.7 ft clarity · 2 µg/L chl-a
  2. 2.ACalderwood Lake — Graham County16.4 ft clarity · 1 µg/L chl-a
  3. 3.ALake Cheoah — Graham County14.6 ft clarity · 2 µg/L chl-a
  4. 4.AChatuge Lake — Clay County11.6 ft clarity · 2 µg/L chl-a
  5. 5.ABelews Lake — Stokes County11.6 ft clarity · 4 µg/L chl-a
  6. 6.AFontana Lake — Swain County13.6 ft clarity · 5 µg/L chl-a
  7. 7.AFontana Lake — Graham County14.1 ft clarity · 4 µg/L chl-a
  8. 8.ANantahala Lake — Macon County12.5 ft clarity · 3 µg/L chl-a
  9. 9.ASanteetlah Lake — Graham County14.3 ft clarity · 4 µg/L chl-a
  10. 10.AApalachia Lake — Cherokee County13.1 ft clarity · 3 µg/L chl-a

Most-polluted lakes

Lowest combined water-quality score among monitored lakes.

  1. 1.FBuckhorn Dam Lake — Chatham County2.3 ft clarity · 100 µg/L P · 31 µg/L chl-a
  2. 2.FHarris Lake — Wake County2.5 ft clarity · 90 µg/L P · 43 µg/L chl-a
  3. 3.FReedy Creek Lake — Wake County90 µg/L P · 33 µg/L chl-a
  4. 4.FLake Rogers — Granville County115 µg/L P · 85 µg/L chl-a
  5. 5.FLake Crabtree — Wake County100 µg/L P · 36 µg/L chl-a
  6. 6.FLake Wilson — Wilson County100 µg/L P · 42 µg/L chl-a
  7. 7.FLake Lee — Union County210 µg/L P · 91 µg/L chl-a
  8. 8.FLake Monroe — Union County110 µg/L P · 62 µg/L chl-a
  9. 9.FJordan Lake — Chatham County2.0 ft clarity · 60 µg/L P · 49 µg/L chl-a
  10. 10.FB Everett Jordan Lake — Chatham County1.8 ft clarity · 117 µg/L P · 23 µg/L chl-a

Worst algae hotspots

Highest measured chlorophyll-a (algae) concentration.

  1. 1.DLake Mattamuskeet — Hyde County103 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  2. 2.FLake Lee — Union County91 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  3. 3.FLake Rogers — Granville County85 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  4. 4.DLake Tabor — Columbus County66 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  5. 5.DLimestone Lake — Duplin County63 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  6. 6.FLake Monroe — Union County62 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  7. 7.FTurner Reservoir — Chatham County59 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  8. 8.FRocky River Reservoir — Chatham County56 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  9. 9.DLake Twitty — Union County49 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  10. 10.FJordan Lake — Chatham County49 µg/L chlorophyll-a

Explore North Carolina lakes

Lake Fishing Forecast

Species activity outlook by water temperature and season

Grades combine Secchi clarity, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a from the EPA Water Quality Portal and state agencies. See the full methodology, the national State of America’s Lakes report, or all North Carolina lakes.

Cite this report: LakeQuality, “The State of North Carolina’s Lakes 2026,” lakequality.org/report/nc.