Barnes Lake
Lewis County, New YorkView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · pH / acidity
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Limited data
Barnes Lake in Lewis County, New York has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.4 µg/L.
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 13 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 8.4 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
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Stays near Barnes Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Barnes Lake in Lewis County, New York — 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.
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Watch Barnes Lake’s letter
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Barnes Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Lewis County, New York. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NYSDEC, last sampled 2023-08-01. 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 B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Barnes Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 8.4 µg/L. TSI 46. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 13 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.4 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Fishing Barnes Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +11.1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
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
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Lewis County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Barnes Lake holds Grade B. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Lewis County
Frequently asked questions about Barnes Lake
Where is Barnes Lake?
- Barnes Lake is a lake in Lewis County, New York. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Barnes Lake?
- Barnes Lake in Lewis County, New York has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.4 µg/L.
Is Barnes Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Barnes Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Barnes Lake across LakeQuality
More New York Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in New York
Mesotrophic Lakes in New York
Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- USGS New York Water Science Center
USGS-NY5 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- P, wu, WCA, persulfate CF color
- Chlorophyll a,fluorometric,uncor
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