Barkers Pond
Middlesex County, MassachusettsView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #10 of 11 in the county
- Limited data
Barkers Pond in Middlesex County, Massachusetts has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 54.5 µg/L.
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Chlorophyll-a
- 54.5 µg/L
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Stays near Barkers Pond
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Barkers Pond in Middlesex County, Massachusetts — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Barkers Pond are listed below.
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Barkers Pond is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2017. Compared to the 10 other monitored lakes in Middlesex County, Barkers Pond ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, MassDEP, last sampled 2017-09-28. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Barkers Pond is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, noxious aquatic plants. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
No clarity data. Chlorophyll-a 54.5 µg/L. TSI 70. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 54.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 70 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Fishing Barkers Pond
EPA Impairment Status
Barkers Pond is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MA82110 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.46 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 11 lakes in Middlesex County
Nearby Lakes in Middlesex County
Frequently asked questions about Barkers Pond
Where is Barkers Pond?
- Barkers Pond is a lake in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Barkers Pond?
- Barkers Pond in Middlesex County, Massachusetts has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 54.5 µg/L.
Is Barkers Pond safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Barkers Pond is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, noxious aquatic plants. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Barkers Pond across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Massachusetts's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2017. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
MASSDEP3 samples · 2017
Analytical methods
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database