Branch Pond
Bennington County, VermontView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · pH / acidity
- #7 of 8 in the county
Branch Pond in Bennington County, Vermont has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.7 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 7.9 ft
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 16.2 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 6.7 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Watch Branch Pond’s letter
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Branch Pond is a mesotrophic lake in Bennington County, Vermont. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Bennington County, Branch Pond ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, VT DEC, last sampled 2024-05-01. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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. Branch 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.9 ft. Phosphorus 16.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.7 µg/L. TSI 47. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16.2 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.7 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Fishing Branch Pond
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.448 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.34 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Branch 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 VT01-06L01 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 8 lakes in Bennington County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Branch Pond holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Bennington County
Frequently asked questions about Branch Pond
Where is Branch Pond?
- Branch Pond is a lake in Bennington County, Vermont. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Branch Pond?
- Branch Pond in Bennington County, Vermont has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.7 µg/L.
Is Branch Pond safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Branch Pond is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Branch Pond across LakeQuality
4.7 mi away · 125 ft
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Vermont's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
79 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Vermont Dept of Environmental Conservation
1VTDECWQ79 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 (3)
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