Big Lake
Cumberland, Nova Scotia93 haView mapDirections
No A–F letter for this lake. The letter is scored against EPA reference conditions for a lake’s ecoregion, and those stop at the US border. Here is what has been measured.
- 36 ft max depth
- Limited data
Big Lake in Cumberland, Nova Scotia has water-quality measurements published by NSECC and no A–F letter. The letter's EPA reference conditions stop at the US border. Water clarity: 2.7 m visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36.1 ft. Surface area: 229.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.7 m
- Max depth
- 11 m
- Area
- 93 ha
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Why Big Lake has no A–F letter
The LakeQuality letter is scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment reference conditions for a lake’s ecoregion, and those stop at the US border. There is no reference condition for Nova Scotia, so the scale cannot be applied to Big Lake at any level of sampling. Sampling here has recorded water clarity and phosphorus, but not algae (chlorophyll-a).
This is not a gap in the monitoring record. NSECC publishes these measurements directly, and everything below that has been measured is reported on this page as NSECC reports it.
Monitoring: Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change. Read the full grading methodology.
Big Lake is a 230-acre lake in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia with a maximum depth of 36 feet.
Source: Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change — not the EPA Water Quality Portal, last sampled 1981-08-24. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Big Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Deep water36.1 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Big Lake
These are the measurements NSECC publishes for Big Lake. No A–F letter applies here: see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Phosphorus 9 µg/L. TSI 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.74 m | Measured, not scored |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L | Measured, not scored |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 11 m |
| Surface Area | 93 ha |
Fishing Big Lake
Nearby Lakes in Cumberland
Frequently asked questions about Big Lake
Where is Big Lake?
- Big Lake is a lake in Cumberland, Nova Scotia. Its water-quality measurements are published by NSECC, and it carries no A–F letter, because no reference condition exists for lakes in this region, so the assessment thresholds behind the A–F scale cannot be applied here.
What is the water quality grade for Big Lake?
- Big Lake in Cumberland, Nova Scotia has water-quality measurements published by NSECC and no A–F letter. The letter's EPA reference conditions stop at the US border. Water clarity: 2.7 m visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36.1 ft. Surface area: 229.8 acres.
Is Big Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Big Lake?
- Big Lake has a maximum depth of 36.1 feet. The lake covers 229.8 acres.
Explore Big Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 1973–1981. Retrieved from Nova Scotia open data (not the EPA Water Quality Portal) on 2026-08-16.
Collected and reported by
- Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change
Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change3 samples · 1981 - Lands and Forests
Lands and Forests1 sample · 1973
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
17
Canadian lakes are published with the measurements their provincial programme reports, and without a LakeQuality A–F letter. The letter is scored against EPA reference conditions for a lake’s ecoregion, and the EPA does not survey these lakes. See how grades are calculated and data sources.