The State of Virginia's Lakes 2026

Cleanest lakes in Virginia

Highest combined water-quality score, 2026.

1. 1.AMouth of Witcher Cr. Lake — Bedford County11.2 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
2. 2.ALower Blackwater River Lake — Franklin County12.1 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
3. 3.ADam Lake — Franklin County12.1 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
4. 4.ADam Lake — Pittsylvania County10.5 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
5. 5.ADam Lake — Alleghany County12.1 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
6. 6.ASta B Lake — Mecklenburg County7.2 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 4 µg/L chl-a
7. 7.AUnion Bridge Lake — Patrick County8.2 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
8. 8.AHidden Valley Lake — Washington County9.7 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
9. 9.AHunting Run Reservior Lake — Spotsylvania County8.2 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
10. 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. 1.FNear Dam Lake — Cumberland County2.1 ft clarity · 60 µg/L P · 34 µg/L chl-a
2. 2.FStation Lake — Virginia Beach city County1.3 ft clarity · 185 µg/L P · 86 µg/L chl-a
3. 3.FSwift Creek Lake Sta — Chesterfield County1.6 ft clarity · 60 µg/L P · 35 µg/L chl-a
4. 4.FSta Lake — Virginia Beach city County1.0 ft clarity · 150 µg/L P · 86 µg/L chl-a
5. 5.DLake Anna — Spotsylvania County3.3 ft clarity · 30 µg/L P · 21 µg/L chl-a
6. 6.DMill Cr Reservoir — Amherst County3.6 ft clarity · 20 µg/L P · 19 µg/L chl-a
7. 7.DLake Nelson — Nelson County3.1 ft clarity · 40 µg/L P · 29 µg/L chl-a
8. 8.DChickahominy Reservoir — Charles City County2.0 ft clarity · 60 µg/L P · 15 µg/L chl-a
9. 9.DUpper Blackwater River Lake — Franklin County3.0 ft clarity · 40 µg/L P · 17 µg/L chl-a
10. 10.DSwift Creek Reservoir Sta — Chesterfield County2.8 ft clarity · 30 µg/L P · 14 µg/L chl-a

Worst algae hotspots

Highest measured chlorophyll-a (algae) concentration.

1. 1.FStation Lake — Virginia Beach city County86 µg/L chlorophyll-a
2. 2.FSta Lake — Virginia Beach city County86 µg/L chlorophyll-a
3. 3.DUt To Chk Lake — Hanover County63 µg/L chlorophyll-a
4. 4.NRNorth Anna River Lake — Spotsylvania County60 µg/L chlorophyll-a
5. 5.DBryants Pond — Sussex County50 µg/L chlorophyll-a
6. 6.FSwift Creek Lake Sta — Chesterfield County35 µg/L chlorophyll-a
7. 7.FNear Dam Lake — Cumberland County34 µg/L chlorophyll-a
8. 8.FUpper Branch of Terry'S Run Lake — Spotsylvania County33 µg/L chlorophyll-a
9. 9.DFluvanna Ruritan Lake — Fluvanna County30 µg/L chlorophyll-a
10. 10.DLake Nelson — Nelson County29 µg/L chlorophyll-a

Trending lakes

Improving

1. 1.AMouth of Witcher Cr. Lake — Bedford County
2. 2.ALower Blackwater River Lake — Franklin County
3. 3.ADam Lake — Franklin County
4. 4.ADam Lake — Pittsylvania County
5. 5.ADam Lake — Alleghany County
6. 6.AUnion Bridge Lake — Patrick County
7. 7.AHunting Run Reservior Lake — Spotsylvania County
8. 8.AGoose Point Lake — Franklin County

Declining

1. 1.FSwift Creek Lake Sta — Chesterfield County
2. 2.FSta Lake — Virginia Beach city County
3. 3.DGreat Creek Reservoir — Brunswick County
4. 4.DMountain Run Lake — Culpeper County
5. 5.DLake Culpeper — Culpeper County
6. 6.DKeysville Reservoir-Charlotte — Charlotte County
7. 7.DTotier Creek Reservoir — Albemarle County
8. 8.DUpstream of Ivy Creek Lake — Albemarle County