Cayuga County Lake Quality
New York, 4 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Cayuga County has 4 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. The county average is C — the middle of the rubric, with one or two lakes pulling the average up or down depending on year.
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. Owasco Lake Platform (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Cayuga County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Owasco Lake Platform, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official New York fishing regulations.
Fishing in Cayuga County
All Lakes in Cayuga County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Owasco Lake Platform | A | 11 ft | 6 µg/L |
| 2 | Owasco Lake | B | 11 ft | - |
| 3 | Lake Como | C | 9.4 ft | - |
| 4 | Duck Lake | D | 4.3 ft | - |
Other Counties in New York
See how Cayuga County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 15 states.
Where to stay near Cayuga County
Top-rated places to stay near Cayuga County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.