Franklin County Lake Quality
Vermont, 9 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Only 9 lakes in Franklin 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. Fairfield Pond (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Franklin County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Fairfield Pond — or check the official Vermont fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Franklin County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfield Pond | A | 19.7 ft | 15.9 µg/L |
| 2 | Kings Hill Pond | A | - | 18.6 µg/L |
| 3 | Metcalf Pond | A | 12.8 ft | 11.1 µg/L |
| 4 | Unnamed Pond Referred To by Dec As South Richford | A | 11.2 ft | 11.1 µg/L |
| 5 | Northeast Arm Lake | B | 13.5 ft | 23.7 µg/L |
| 6 | St. Albans Bay Lake | C | 6.6 ft | 17.3 µg/L |
| 7 | Proper Pond | C | 5.9 ft | 22.3 µg/L |
| 8 | Missisquoi Bay Lake | C | 5.6 ft | 34.5 µg/L |
| 9 | Lake Carmi | C | 4.9 ft | 22.4 µg/L |
Other Counties in Vermont
See how Franklin 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 Franklin County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.