The City has completed water quality monitoring and analysis at six lakes over a 15-month study period from July 2023 through September 2024. The main objective of the monitoring study was to establish the baseline water quality conditions during times when it’s not raining in these lakes. The baseline water quality conditions for the lakes studied were found to be within the normal range of water quality parameters for urban freshwater lakes. The City intends to develop a water quality monitoring plan to establish long-term water quality trends, which will be used along with the baseline conditions to support evaluation of the impacts of upstream stormwater management facilities on the water quality within the lakes and downstream waterways.

The monitoring and analysis included water depth measurement, water temperature, specific conductivity, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and nutrients. Dissolved oxygen is the direct indicator of water quality and the health of aquatic life. Additional information about the parameters can be found below.

Monitoring Data Results


Lake Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) Turbidity (NTU) Specific Conductivity (µs/cm) pH Levels Total Nitrogen (mg/L) Total Phosphorus (ug/L)
Ranges for Urban Lakes* Greater than 3 Less than 100 0-400 for freshwater 6.5-9 Less than 4 Less than 50
Bayville Lake 5.7–16.0 4–53 93-185 7.1–9.9 0–0.27 19-184
Chatham Hall Lake 1.0–15.4 8– 43 87–144 6.4–7.6 0–1.47 62–427
Great Neck Lake 3.2–14.8 3–63 37–140 6.2–8.9 0–0.41 19–605
Lake Conrad 2 3.6–13.7 0–60 33–102 6.0–8.6 0–1.00 19–300
Kemps Lake 6.5–15.1 8–32 425–4555 7.0–8.5 0–0.32 19–624
Lake Bradford 5.3–14.2 4–54 135–165 6.5–9.8 0–0.45 19–90

* Note: Normal ranges in natural lakes referenced from DataStream Monitor’s Guide to Water Quality.

Data is available upon request. Please contact the point of contact listed at the top of the page.

Additional Information on the water quality parameters analyzed, how they are measured, and what ranges are preferred to support aquatic health is summarized below.

  • Lake Bradford

    Lake Bradford
  • Great Neck Lake

    Great Neck Lake
  • Chatham Hall Lake

    Chatham Hall Lake
  • Bayville Lake

    Bayville Lake
    • Stormwater & Flood Protection
      • Flood Protection Program Flood Protection Program FAQ Flood Model Visualization & Exposure Tool Flood Prevention Bond Referendum Oversight Board Central Resort District Drainage Improvements 24th Street 21st and Baltic Eastern Shore Drive - Phase 1 Lake Bradford/Chubb Lake Linkhorn Bay Drainage Basin Southern Rivers Watershed Pungo Ferry Road New Bridge Road West Neck Creek Bridge Stormwater Green Infrastructure Marsh Restoration in Back Bay Elizabeth River Wetland and Floodplain Restoration Windsor Woods, Princess Anne Plaza & The Lakes Project Comments Project Updates Master Planning Sea Level Wise Stormwater Planning Projects Bow Creek Stormwater Project Eastern Shore Drive Drainage Improvement Lake Bradford & Chubb Lake Stormwater Windsor Woods, Princess Anne Plaza and The Lakes Stormwater Stormwater Quality Stormwater Management Facilities Stormwater Regulations Stormwater Utility Fee Discount Stormwater Quality Projects & Evaluations 17th Street Regional Stormwater Facility Ashville Bridge Creek Watershed Bayville Lake Water Quality Improvement Bellamy Woods Water Quality Improvement Brigadoon Park Water Quality Improvement Brooklyn Avenue Water Quality Improvement Chatham Hall Lake Water Quality Improvement Historic Kempsville Water Quality Improvements Kemps Lake Water Quality Improvement Lake Bradford & Great Neck Lake Monitoring Lake James Watershed Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Study Lynnhaven Park Constructed Wetlands Lynnhaven River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Project Oceana Gardens Constructed Wetlands Providence Park Wet Pond Salem Village Park Water Quality Improvement Sandbridge Road Manufactured Treatment Device Saw Pen Point Shoreline Restoration Seatack Park Wet Swale Sunstream Park Pond Mosquito Control Mosquito-Borne Diseases Get Involved Adopt-a-Drain Good to Do National Flood Insurance Program Stormwater Management Implementation Advisory Group

    Maps

    Lakes WQ Monitoring Study Map