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

Essex County Lake Quality

New York, 129 lakes, average grade A (Excellent)

Essex County has 129 monitored lakes, enough that within-county variation matters as much as the county average. Some are deep glacial basins, others are shallow agricultural-watershed waters, and the measurements reflect that mix. 1 of those lake carry an A–F grade. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. The county's average grade is A — among the cleanest in New York. 1 lakes pull an A on their own, and almost none fall into the D or F brackets.

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. Queneska Island Lake (A) is the cleanest in the county.

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Where to stay near Essex County

Top-rated places to stay near Essex County

Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

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Quick Answers for Essex County

Cleanest lakes in Essex County →Cleanest lakes in New York →Safest swimming lakes in New York →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Queneska Island Lake — or check the official New York fishing regulations.

All Lakes in Essex County

129 lakes · 1 graded, 128 not rated1 graded lake · 128 not rated, hidden

#LakeGradeClarityPhosphorusAlgaeTrophicAccess
1AQueneska Island LakeEssexA17.4 ft15 µg/L3.4 µg/LNo recent samples✓ Public
NRSchroon LakeEssexNR14.1 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples✓ Public
NRLake PlacidEssexNR23.1 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NREagle LakeEssexNR24.3 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples✓ Public
NRLincoln PondEssexNR15.1 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMirror LakeEssexNR22.6 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples✓ Public
NRAugur LakeEssexNR8 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NREssex Chain LakesEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRJackson PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NREssex Chain LakesEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NREssex Chain LakesEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMud PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRDeer PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRGoodnow FlowageEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRGoodnow PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRAdjidaumo FlowEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRArbutus PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRWolf PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRDeer PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMoose PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRHenderson LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRUpper PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMoose PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLower PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRHeart LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLake ColdenEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLake JimmyEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLake SallyEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRBoreas PondsEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRWolf PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRTrout PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRPerch PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRBeaver FlowEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRNewcomb LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRHarris LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRRich LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRWoodruff PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRZack PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NROtter PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRSixth LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRFrank PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRSplit Rock PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMoose PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRHewitt PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRCheney PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRSand PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRBailey PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRNorth PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRElk LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRClear PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRBig Marsh PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRPalmer PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMoose Mountain PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRHammond PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRBass LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRTub Mill PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NROvershot PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRKnob PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRJohnson PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRParadox LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRPyramid LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRGooseneck PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRFlemings PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRPenfield PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRSherman LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRBartlett PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMill PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRNorth PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRNichols PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLittle PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRRussett PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRRound PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRNewport PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRNew PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRUpper Ausable LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLower Asuable LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRUpper Cascade LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLower Cascade LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLawson PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRBig PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMud PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLong PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRFrances PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRButternut PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRKeenan PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRHadley PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRHighlands Forge LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRTrout PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRGrass PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRConnery PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRHolcomb PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRRound LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRAlford PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMoody PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMcKenzie PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMoose PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRCranberry MarshEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLost PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRWhortleberry PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRBerrymill PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRPharoah LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRGrizzle OceanEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRPutnam PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRRock PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRClear PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRAlder PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRCrane PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRGlidden MarshEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRCrab PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRSpectacle PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRGoose PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRThurman PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMarsh PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRHorseshoe PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRBullet PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRBig PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRBigsby PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMuller PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NROliver PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRStony PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRBalfour LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMinerva LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRClear PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRHuntley PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMink PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRThumb PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRBeaver PondsEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMud PondEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRPine LakeEssexNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot 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.

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Other Counties in New York

Seneca County

4 lakes · Avg grade A

Hamilton County

198 lakes · Avg grade A

Herkimer County

110 lakes · Avg grade A

Lewis County

33 lakes · Avg grade B

Franklin County

134 lakes · Avg grade C

Clinton County

18 lakes · Avg grade C

See how Essex 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.