Barnes Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Lewis County, New York. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Brook Trout. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Lewis County, Barnes Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2023-08-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Barnes Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Barnes Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.7 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Lewis County
Nearby Lakes in Lewis County
Explore Barnes Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Barnes Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NY0801-0134 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-08-01
Monitoring stations: 1