Late afternoon sun over Slim Lake, scattering a bright path across wind-textured water

Richmond County Lake Quality

Nova Scotia, 33 lakes, measured by NSECC with no A–F grades

Richmond County's 33 monitored lakes fall in the moderate-density bracket for Nova Scotia. 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. No lake in Richmond County carries an A–F letter, and none can: the scale is scored against EPA reference conditions, which stop at the US border. The 33 monitored lakes below carry whatever clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a readings NSECC has published.

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.

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Quick Answers for Richmond County

Cleanest lakes in Richmond County →Safest swimming lakes in Nova Scotia →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Uist Lake — or check the official Nova Scotia fishing regulations.

All Lakes in Richmond County

33 lakes · 0 graded, 33 not rated0 graded lakes · 33 not rated, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (33)

Lake	Grade	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
NRUist LakeRichmond	NR	14.3 ft	4 µg/L	2.4 µg/L	No recent samples	78.7 ft	Not recorded
NRLoch LomondRichmond	NR	10 ft	4 µg/L	2.3 µg/L	No recent samples	62.3 ft	Not recorded
NRLoch LomondRichmond	NR	9 ft	5 µg/L	2.5 µg/L	No recent samples	62.3 ft	Not recorded
NRSchool LakeRichmond	NR	10.7 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	26.2 ft	Not recorded
NRCook LakeRichmond	NR	9.8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	39.4 ft	Not recorded
NRCranberry LakeRichmond	NR	11.3 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	19.7 ft	Not recorded
NRLong LakeRichmond	NR	11.8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	52.5 ft	Not recorded
NRMackenzies LakeRichmond	NR	14.8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	59.1 ft	Not recorded
NRBarren Hill LakeRichmond	NR	9.2 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	16.4 ft	Not recorded
NRChurch LakeRichmond	NR	21.7 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	29.9 ft	Not recorded
NRFerguson LakeRichmond	NR	8.9 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	35.1 ft	Not recorded
NRMackinnons LakeRichmond	NR	10.8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	16.4 ft	Not recorded
NRVictoria LakeRichmond	NR	5.2 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	13.1 ft	Not recorded
NRShaw LakeRichmond	NR	9.8 ft	3.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	13.1 ft	Not recorded
NRSec LakeRichmond	NR	12.1 ft	7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	19.7 ft	Not recorded
NRLauchlin LakeRichmond	NR	6.6 ft	2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	16.4 ft	Not recorded
NRGrand LakeRichmond	NR	22 ft	2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	62.3 ft	Not recorded
NRNicholas LakeRichmond	NR	No recent samples	2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	6.6 ft	Not recorded
NRL'Ardoise Long LakeRichmond	NR	10 ft	2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	29.5 ft	Not recorded
NRColin Macraes LakesRichmond	NR	13 ft	3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	36.1 ft	Not recorded
NRDuncans LakeRichmond	NR	13.1 ft	1 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	16.4 ft	Not recorded
NRIsland LakeRichmond	NR	10.8 ft	2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	9.8 ft	Not recorded
NRPottie LakeRichmond	NR	22 ft	2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	39.4 ft	Not recorded
NRSampson LakeRichmond	NR	9 ft	3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	16.4 ft	Not recorded
NRBuchanan LakeRichmond	NR	7.5 ft	2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	19.7 ft	Not recorded
NRLong LakeRichmond	NR	9.4 ft	5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
NRNarrow LakeRichmond	NR	11.2 ft	3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	26.2 ft	Not recorded
NRMacleods LakeRichmond	NR	17.9 ft	3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
NRLoch LomandRichmond	NR	17 ft	2.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	62.3 ft	Not recorded
NRMorrison LakeRichmond	NR	No recent samples	2.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	3.3 ft	Not recorded
NRBenjamins PondRichmond	NR	10.3 ft	3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
NRGarrets LakeRichmond	NR	No recent samples	6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	4.9 ft	Not recorded
NRGillis LakeRichmond	NR	5.2 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	6.6 ft	Not recorded

NR = no A–F letter. The scale is scored against EPA reference conditions for a lake’s ecoregion, and those stop at the US border, so no amount of sampling produces a letter here. The measurements are published as the authority reports them, not a failing grade. How grading works.

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Browse every Nova Scotia lake, or the full directory of lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..

Source: Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change. See data sources.