Strafford County Lake Quality
New Hampshire, 16 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Strafford County's 16 graded lakes fall in the moderate-density bracket for New Hampshire. The county-level average smooths over real differences — a single agricultural watershed near the southwest corner can pull the average down even if the rest of the county runs clean. With an average grade of B, Strafford County sits comfortably above the New Hampshire median.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Ayers Pond-Deep Spot (A); the most-stressed is Wheelwright Pond-Deep Spot (C).
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Quick Answers for Strafford County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Ayers Pond-Deep Spot — or check the official New Hampshire fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Strafford County
16 lakes · 13 graded, 3 not rated13 graded lakes · 3 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AAyers Pond-Deep SpotStrafford | A | No recent samples | 11.2 µg/L | 1.7 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 2 | BBaxter Lake-Cruze CoveStrafford | B | No recent samples | 13.6 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 3 | BBaxter Lake-Deep SpotStrafford | B | No recent samples | 12.4 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 4 | BBaxter Lake-Grandview InletStrafford | B | No recent samples | 12.3 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 5 | BSunrise Lake-Bartletts CoveStrafford | B | No recent samples | 12.6 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 6 | BSunrise Lake-Deep SpotStrafford | B | No recent samples | 12.9 µg/L | 16.3 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 7 | BSunrise Lake-Hampshire ShoresStrafford | B | No recent samples | 13.1 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 8 | BSunrise Lake-Main BeachStrafford | B | No recent samples | 11.8 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 9 | BSunrise Lake-Nicola BeachStrafford | B | No recent samples | 10.8 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 10 | BSunrise Lake-Pinkham CoveStrafford | B | No recent samples | 13.1 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 11 | BSunrise Lake-Town BeachStrafford | B | No recent samples | 11.5 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 12 | BWinkley Pond-Deep SpotStrafford | B | No recent samples | 16 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 13 | CWheelwright Pond-Deep SpotStrafford | C | No recent samples | 20.9 µg/L | 5.5 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| NRAyers Pond-Northwest CoveStrafford | NR | No recent samples | 11.9 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRSalmon Falls River Impoundment LakeStrafford | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRSunrise Lake-Tanglewood BeachStrafford | NR | No recent samples | 21.6 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
NR = not rated: the monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar for a grade. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.
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Other Counties in New Hampshire
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.