Bolton Lake
Bolton Lake in Tolland County, Connecticut is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Surface area: 176 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.5 ft
- Area
- 176 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Why Bolton Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Bolton Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by your state environmental agency and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Bolton Lake is a 176-acre lake in Tolland County, Connecticut. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2021-10-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Bolton Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bolton Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bolton Lake in Tolland County, Connecticut — 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Bolton Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 176 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Bolton Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Bolton Lake (Lower)Public
Named access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, snapped within 5 km. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Bolton Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Bolton Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lower Bolton Lake Dam (completed 1940), built primarily for recreation on the Bolton Pond Brook; earth-type dam, 20 ft tall and 1,080 ft long.
- Surface area
- 176 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,325 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,325 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.98 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Connecticut DEEP
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID CT00509 · Operator website
Graded lakes near Bolton Lake
Bolton Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Tolland County
Frequently asked questions about Bolton Lake
Where is Bolton Lake?
- Bolton Lake is a lake in Tolland County, Connecticut. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Bolton Lake?
- Bolton Lake in Tolland County, Connecticut is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Surface area: 176 acres.
Is Bolton Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Bolton Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Bolton Lake?
- Bolton Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bolton Lake (Lower). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bolton Lake across LakeGrade
More Connecticut Lake Rankings
Other Lakes in Connecticut
Mesotrophic Lakes in Connecticut
Where this data comes from
47 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS47 samples · 2020–2021
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory