Pottawatomie County Lake Quality
Kansas, 4 lakes, average grade A (Excellent)
Pottawatomie County has 4 monitored lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. 2 of those lakes carry an A–F grade. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. On average, Pottawatomie County lakes grade an A. That puts it near the top of the Kansas county ranking.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Pottawatomie State Fishing Lake (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Where to stay near Pottawatomie County
Top-rated places to stay near Pottawatomie County
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Pottawatomie County?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Pottawatomie County — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Quick Answers for Pottawatomie County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Pottawatomie State Fishing Lake — or check the official Kansas fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Pottawatomie County
4 lakes · 2 graded, 2 not rated2 graded lakes · 2 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | APottawatomie State Fishing LakePottawatomie | A | 7.6 ft | 20 µg/L | 4.5 µg/L | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| 2 | APottawatomie State Fishing LakePottawatomie | A | 8.3 ft | 20 µg/L | 2.2 µg/L | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| NRWamego City LakePottawatomie | NR | 1.5 ft | No recent samples | 43 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRLake ElboPottawatomie | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
NR = not rated: there is not enough recent sampling to support a letter. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.
Lake Match
Which lake suits how you actually use one?
Six questions — swimming, fishing, quiet, cabins, drive time — and a shortlist of graded lakes that fit, with the water quality behind each one.
Other Counties in Kansas
See how Pottawatomie County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.