Chautauqua County Lake Quality
New York, 16 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
Chautauqua County's 16 graded lakes fall in the moderate-density bracket for New York. 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. On average, Chautauqua County lakes grade D, with phosphorus loading and reduced clarity showing up across most of the dataset.
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 Chautauqua Lake (C); the most-stressed is Lakewood (F).
Quick Answers for Chautauqua County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Chautauqua Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official New York fishing regulations.
Fishing in Chautauqua County
All Lakes in Chautauqua County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chautauqua Lake | C | 6.7 ft | - |
| 2 | Findley Lake | C | 8 ft | - |
| 3 | Bigbar Lake | C | 6.8 ft | - |
| 4 | Sailingclub Lake | C | 7.3 ft | - |
| 5 | Northdeep Lake | C | 7.1 ft | - |
| 6 | Lighthousepoint Lake | C | 8.8 ft | - |
| 7 | Lucilleballpark Lake | D | 4.2 ft | - |
| 8 | Biginlet Lake | D | 6.2 ft | - |
| 9 | Longpoint Lake | D | 3.9 ft | - |
| 10 | Lakewood | F | 1.9 ft | - |
| 11 | Bridgesouth Lake | F | 3 ft | - |
| 12 | Dutchhollow Lake | F | 2.4 ft | - |
| 13 | Cheneypoint Lake | F | 3.1 ft | - |
| 14 | Svp Lake | F | 2.8 ft | - |
Other Counties in New York
See how Chautauqua 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 Chautauqua County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.