Putnam County Lake Quality
New York, 13 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Only 13 lakes in Putnam 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 average is C — the middle of the rubric, with one or two lakes pulling the average up or down depending on year.
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. China Pond (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Putnam County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for China Pond — or check the official New York fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Putnam County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China Pond | A | 15.2 ft | - |
| 2 | Indian Lake | A | 24.8 ft | - |
| 3 | Barrett Pond | B | 14.4 ft | - |
| 4 | Roaring Brook Lake | C | 8.3 ft | - |
| 5 | Peach Lake | C | 7.2 ft | - |
| 6 | Palmer Lake | D | 3.6 ft | - |
| 7 | Sagamore Lake | D | 5 ft | - |
| 8 | Kirk Lake | D | 5 ft | - |
| 9 | Lake Peekskill | D | 3.9 ft | - |
| 10 | Lake Tibet | D | 3.7 ft | - |
| 11 | Barger Pond | D | 3.9 ft | - |
| 12 | Seven Hills Lake | D | 4.8 ft | - |
| 13 | Lake Carmel | D | 5.6 ft | - |
Other Counties in New York
See how Putnam 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 Putnam County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.