Buckingham Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Albany County, New York. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2020.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-09-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Buckingham Lake
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Fishing Buckingham Lake
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Albany County
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
38 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Buckingham Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 5 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 14 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Albany County Water Purification District - South WwtpAlbany County · 3.3 mi away · NPDES NY0026867MajorRecent violation
- Empire Power PlantRensselaer County · 3.6 mi away · NPDES NY0267546MajorRecent violation
- Albany County Water Purification District - North Wastewater Treatment PlantMenands · 4 mi away · NPDES NY0026875MajorRecent violation
- East Greenbush (T) WwtpEast Greenbush · 4.2 mi away · NPDES NY0026034MajorRecent violation
- Rensselaer County Sd#1 WwtpTroy · 5 mi away · NPDES NY0087971MajorRecent violation
- City Of Albany Combined Sewer OverflowsAlbany, City Of · 2.2 mi away · NPDES NY0025747Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2020-09-26
Monitoring stations: 1