Cortland County Lake Quality
New York, 11 lakes — no lake here has enough monitoring data for a grade
Cortland County has 11 monitored 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. No lake in Cortland County has enough sampling behind it for an A–F grade yet. The 11 monitored lakes below carry whatever clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a measurements exist.
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.
Where to stay near Cortland County
Top-rated places to stay near Cortland County
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Cortland County?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Cortland County — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Quick Answers for Cortland County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Upper Little York Lake — or check the official New York fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Cortland County
11 lakes · 0 graded, 11 not rated0 graded lakes · 11 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRUpper Little York LakeCortland | NR | 11 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NREllis LakeCortland | NR | 7.8 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRSong LakeCortland | NR | 15.4 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRTully LakeCortland | NR | 11.9 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRSolon PondCortland | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRGoodale LakeCortland | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRBeaver PondCortland | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRStump PondCortland | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRBloody PondCortland | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRHigh LakeCortland | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRDean PondCortland | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
NR = not rated: there is not enough recent sampling to support a letter. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.
Lake Match
Which lake suits how you actually use one?
Six questions — swimming, fishing, quiet, cabins, drive time — and a shortlist of graded lakes that fit, with the water quality behind each one.
Other Counties in New York
See how Cortland County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.