Hamilton County Lake Quality
New York, 7 lakes, average grade A (Excellent)
Hamilton County has 7 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's average grade is A — among the cleanest in New York. 4 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. Blue Mtn Lake (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Hamilton County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Blue Mtn Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official New York fishing regulations.
Fishing in Hamilton County
All Lakes in Hamilton County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Mtn Lake | A | 21 ft | - |
| 2 | Carry Pond | A | - | 15 µg/L |
| 3 | Jockeybush Lake | A | - | 7 µg/L |
| 4 | Willis Lake | A | - | 8 µg/L |
| 5 | Raquette Lake | B | 11.2 ft | - |
| 6 | Lake Pleasant | B | 13.9 ft | - |
Other Counties in New York
See how Hamilton 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 Hamilton County
Top-rated places to stay near Hamilton County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.