Essex County Lake Quality
New York, 9 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Only 9 lakes in Essex County carry an active grade. The county-level summary is therefore representative of those specific lakes, not necessarily of every water body in the county. The county-wide average lands at B — solid water quality with most lakes carrying clear summer transparency and low-to-moderate phosphorus.
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. Lake Placid (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Essex County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Lake Placid, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official New York fishing regulations.
Fishing in Essex County
All Lakes in Essex County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Placid | A | 23.1 ft | - |
| 2 | Eagle Lake | A | 24.3 ft | - |
| 3 | Main Section Lake | A | 15.7 ft | 9.5 µg/L |
| 4 | Lincoln Pond | A | 15.1 ft | - |
| 5 | Mirror Lake | A | 22.6 ft | - |
| 6 | Queneska Island Lake | A | 17.4 ft | 15 µg/L |
| 7 | Schroon Lake | B | 14.1 ft | - |
| 8 | Augur Lake | C | 8 ft | - |
| 9 | Southern Section Lake | C | 2.6 ft | 22.9 µg/L |
Other Counties in New York
See how Essex 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 Essex County
Top-rated places to stay near Essex County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.