Bennington County Lake Quality
Vermont, 16 lakes, average grade B (Good)
There are 16 graded lakes in Bennington County. The mix is varied enough that the county-level average tells you the broad strokes, not the choose-this-cabin specifics. With an average grade of B, Bennington County sits comfortably above the {{stateName}} median.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Howe Pond Outlet (A); the most-stressed is Howe Pond (C).
Quick Answers for Bennington County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Howe Pond Outlet — or check the official Vermont fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Bennington County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Howe Pond Outlet | A | - | 13.3 µg/L |
| 2 | Hapgood Pond Outlet | A | - | 16.7 µg/L |
| 3 | South Stream Pond | A | - | 11.1 µg/L |
| 4 | Barber Lake | A | - | 10 µg/L |
| 5 | Shaftsbury Lake | A | - | 6.4 µg/L |
| 6 | Lake Paran | A | - | 15 µg/L |
| 7 | Searsburg Reservoir | A | 11.2 ft | 6.7 µg/L |
| 8 | Big Pond | B | 7.5 ft | 13 µg/L |
| 9 | Hapgood Pond | B | 9.2 ft | 11.6 µg/L |
| 10 | Little Pond | B | 7.2 ft | 9.9 µg/L |
| 11 | Beebe Pond | B | 7.3 ft | 13 µg/L |
| 12 | Branch Pond | B | 7.9 ft | 16.2 µg/L |
| 13 | Stamford Pond | B | 9.5 ft | 12.6 µg/L |
| 14 | Adams Reservoir | B | 6.9 ft | 14 µg/L |
| 15 | Bourn Pond | B | 5.6 ft | 19.7 µg/L |
| 16 | Howe Pond | C | 5.7 ft | 20.5 µg/L |
Other Counties in Vermont
See how Bennington County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 17 states.
Where to stay near Bennington County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.