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LakeQuality

Hypereutrophic lakes (TSI above 70) are at the upper end of the productivity scale: visible algal blooms most weeks of summer, clarity often under 3 feet, and meaningful risk of harmful-algal-bloom toxin events. 43 hypereutrophic lakes are on the North Carolina books. Almost none of them are deep — 0% break 50 feet. Shallow basin plus heavy nutrient input is the consistent recipe.

Hypereutrophic lakes overwhelmingly grade D or F — the trophic class and the grade are measuring closely-related dimensions of the same underlying nutrient regime.

#LakeCountyGradeClarityDepthTSI
1University LakeOrangeF2.3 ft-62
2B E Jordan LakeChathamF2.6 ft-62
3Little River ReservoirDurhamF3.1 ft-62
4Jordan LakeChathamF2.2 ft-65
5Lake MichieDurhamF2.6 ft-63
6Buckhorn Dam LakeChathamF2.3 ft-67
7Sandy Creek ReservoirRandolphF2.5 ft-66
8Harris LakeWakeF2.5 ft-67
9Glenville LakeCumberlandF3.1 ft-62
10Falls of the Neuse ReservoirWakeF2.2 ft-63
11Limestone LakeDuplinF2.3 ft-66
12Turner ReservoirChathamF1.6 ft-69
13Graham-Mebane ReservoirAlamanceF2.3 ft-62
14Rocky River ReservoirChathamF1.9 ft-67
15Lake RoxboroCaswellF3 ft-60
16Lake WheelerWakeF2.8 ft-63
17Lake CrabtreeWakeF1.1 ft-70
18Buckhorn ReservoirWilsonF2.3 ft-63
19Lake WilsonWilsonF2.1 ft-68
20Lake RogersGranvilleF1.4 ft-71
21Sycamore LakeWakeF2 ft-64
22Lake OrangeOrangeF2.9 ft-63
23Apex ReservoirWakeF1.8 ft-65
24Big LakeWakeF2.3 ft-64
25Bass LakeWakeF2.5 ft-63
26Beaverdam LakeWakeF2.5 ft-63
27Lake BensonWakeF2.3 ft-64
28Reedy Creek LakeWakeF2 ft-65
29Sunset LakeWakeF1.8 ft-70
30Town Creek LakeRowanF--64
31Robeson Creek LakeChathamF--64
32Lake Thom-A-LexDavidsonF--64
33Lake LeeUnionF--78
34High Rock LakeDavidsonF--64
35Lake MonroeUnionF--72
36Lake TwittyUnionF--68
37Lake MattamuskeetHydeF--69
38Coddle Creek ReservoirCabarrusF--59
39Lake ReeseRandolphF--61
40Lake TaborColumbusF--70
41Lake HamptonYadkinF--59
42Lake Hampton Upper EndYadkinF--59
43Tar River ReservoirNashF--65

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.