Big Mud Pond
Rutland County, VermontView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · pH / acidity
- #14 of 15 in the county
- Limited data
Big Mud Pond in Rutland County, Vermont has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.1 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 4.3 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 19.1 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
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Stays near Big Mud Pond
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Watch Big Mud Pond’s letter
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Big Mud Pond is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Rutland County, Vermont. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 14 other monitored lakes in Rutland County, Big Mud Pond ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, VT DEC, last sampled 2024-05-10. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Big Mud Pond is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Camping3 public campgrounds nearby
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Big Mud Pond is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4.3 ft. Phosphorus 19.1 µg/L. TSI 51. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Big Mud Pond
- Peru Peak Shelter & Griffith Lake Tent Site2.3 km
- Lost Pond Shelter4.1 km
- Old Job Shelter4.3 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Big Mud Pond
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.029 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.56 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Big Mud 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 VT03-18L03 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 15 lakes in Rutland County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Big Mud Pond holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Rutland County
Frequently asked questions about Big Mud Pond
Where is Big Mud Pond?
- Big Mud Pond is a lake in Rutland County, Vermont. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Big Mud Pond?
- Big Mud Pond in Rutland County, Vermont has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.1 µg/L.
Is Big Mud Pond safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Big Mud Pond is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there campgrounds on Big Mud Pond?
- Big Mud Pond has 3 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Peru Peak Shelter & Griffith Lake Tent Site, Lost Pond Shelter, Old Job Shelter. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Big Mud Pond across LakeQuality
More Vermont Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Vermont
Eutrophic Lakes in Vermont
Where this data comes from
47 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Vermont Dept of Environmental Conservation
1VTDECWQ47 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- 4500 P H ~ Manual Digestion and Flow Injection Analysis for Total Phosphorus
- EPA approved Alternate Test Procedure for 4500 P H. Has a 28 day hold without acid preservation.
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles