
York County Lake Quality
Pennsylvania, 7 lakes, measured by PA DEP
York County has 7 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. 3 of those lakes carry recent nutrient and algae readings. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. For York County the spread behind the average matters more than the average itself: a few nutrient-rich lakes among many clear ones produce the same figure as the inverse.
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 Marburg has the lowest nutrient and algae readings in the county.
Where to stay near York County
Top-rated places to stay near York County
Prices for Oct 16–18, 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 York County?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near York County — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Quick Answers for York County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Lake Marburg — or check the official Pennsylvania fishing regulations.
All Lakes in York County
7 lakes · 3 ranked on readings, 4 without enough sampling3 lakes ranked on readings · 4 without enough sampling, hidden
| # | Lake | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Max Depth | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake MarburgYork | No recent samples | 14 µg/L | 3.2 µg/L | No recent samples | 111.5 ft | ✓ Public |
| 2 | Sheppard-Meyers ReservoirYork | No recent samples | 28.5 µg/L | 8.1 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 3 | Pinchot LakeYork | No recent samples | 33.5 µg/L | 9.6 µg/L | No recent samples | 30.2 ft | ✓ Public |
| Lawrence Baker Sheppard ReservoirYork | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public | |
| Lake RedmanYork | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 40 ft | ✓ Public | |
| Lake PahagacoYork | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Lake WilliamsYork | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 36 ft | ✓ Public |
NR = no nutrient or algae reading on record. The measurements are published as the authority reports them. Where the data comes from.
Lake Match
Which lake suits how you actually use one?
Six questions — swimming, fishing, quiet, cabins, drive time — and a shortlist of lakes that fit, with the water quality behind each one.
Other Counties in Pennsylvania
Browse every Pennsylvania lake, or the full directory of lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..
Source: the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. See data sources.