Essex County Lake Quality
Massachusetts, 7 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Essex County has 7 graded 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. With an average grade of B, Essex County sits comfortably above the {{stateName}} median.
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. Crystal Lake (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Essex County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Crystal Lake — or check the official Massachusetts fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Essex County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crystal Lake | A | - | - |
| 2 | Walden Pond | A | - | - |
| 3 | Chebacco Lake | A | - | - |
| 4 | Field Pond | B | - | - |
| 5 | Chebacco Lake | B | - | - |
| 6 | Stiles Pond | C | - | - |
| 7 | Upper Artichoke Reservoir | F | - | - |
Other Counties in Massachusetts
See how Essex County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 36 states.
Where to stay near Essex County
Top-rated places to stay near Essex County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.