Data Report · Updated July 2026
The State of Virginia’s Lakes 2026
Of 150 monitored lakes in Virginia, 55.3% earn a water-quality grade of A or B and 23.3% score D or F (average grade C). Nla Lake is the cleanest;
150
Monitored lakes graded
C
Average grade
55.3%
Grade A or B
0%
On impaired list
Virginia grade distribution
A
B
C
D
F
A: 46 (30.7%)B: 37 (24.7%)C: 32 (21.3%)D: 23 (15.3%)F: 12 (8.0%)
Cleanest lakes in Virginia
Highest combined water-quality score, 2026.
- 1.ANla Lake — Augusta County9.7 ft clarity · 5 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
- 2.ANla Lake — Patrick County11.9 ft clarity · 8 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
- 3.AMouth of Witcher Cr. Lake — Bedford County11.2 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
- 4.ALower Blackwater River Lake — Franklin County12.1 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
- 5.ADam Lake — Franklin County12.1 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
- 6.ADam Lake — Pittsylvania County10.5 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
- 7.ADam Lake — Alleghany County12.1 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
- 8.AUnion Bridge Lake — Patrick County8.2 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
- 9.AHunting Run Reservior Lake — Spotsylvania County8.2 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
- 10.AGoose Point Lake — Franklin County10.2 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
Most-polluted lakes
Lowest combined water-quality score among monitored lakes.
- 1.FNla Lake — King and Queen County1.7 ft clarity · 96000 µg/L P · 46 µg/L chl-a
- 2.FNla Lake — Petersburg city County2.0 ft clarity · 114000 µg/L P · 50 µg/L chl-a
- 3.FNla Lake — Virginia Beach city County1.0 ft clarity · 56039 µg/L P · 82 µg/L chl-a
- 4.FNla Lake — James City County2.6 ft clarity · 6052 µg/L P · 42 µg/L chl-a
- 5.FNla Lake — Fauquier County0.4 ft clarity · 426000 µg/L P · 110 µg/L chl-a
- 6.FNla Lake — Amelia County2.2 ft clarity · 73047 µg/L P · 46 µg/L chl-a
- 7.FNla Lake — Greensville County0.9 ft clarity · 214 µg/L P · 85 µg/L chl-a
- 8.FUt To Chk Lake — Hanover County135 µg/L P · 63 µg/L chl-a
- 9.FBryants Pond — Sussex County420 µg/L P · 50 µg/L chl-a
- 10.DNla Lake — Dinwiddie County3.1 ft clarity · 35018 µg/L P · 38 µg/L chl-a
Worst algae hotspots
Highest measured chlorophyll-a (algae) concentration.
- 1.FNla Lake — Fauquier County110 µg/L chlorophyll-a
- 2.DNla Lake — Cumberland County87 µg/L chlorophyll-a
- 3.FNla Lake — Greensville County85 µg/L chlorophyll-a
- 4.FNla Lake — Virginia Beach city County82 µg/L chlorophyll-a
- 5.FUt To Chk Lake — Hanover County63 µg/L chlorophyll-a
- 6.FNorth Anna River Lake — Spotsylvania County60 µg/L chlorophyll-a
- 7.FNla Lake — Petersburg city County50 µg/L chlorophyll-a
- 8.FBryants Pond — Sussex County50 µg/L chlorophyll-a
- 9.FNla Lake — King and Queen County46 µg/L chlorophyll-a
- 10.FNla Lake — Amelia County46 µg/L chlorophyll-a
Explore Virginia lakes
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 Virginia lakes.
Cite this report: LakeQuality, “The State of Virginia’s Lakes 2026,” lakequality.org/report/va.