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Budd Lake

D
Grade D — Nutrient-rich
Nutrient-rich · #6 of 12 lakes in the county · 3.3 ft clear · Eutrophic
Eutrophic

Budd Lake in Morris County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25 µg/L.

Clarity
3.3 ft
Type
Eutrophic

Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Budd Lake

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Budd Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Morris County, New Jersey. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Morris County, Budd Lake ranks #6 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2023-10-03. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Grade only

Algae risk

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.

Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum

Get alerts for Budd Lake

Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)

Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 25.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 25 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)3.3 ftNot graded
Phosphorus25.4 µg/LFair
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)25 µg/LPoor
Trophic State Index (TSI)58Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Where to stay near Budd Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Budd Lake in Morris County, New Jersey — 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Budd Lake are listed below.

Top-rated places to stay near Budd Lake

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Fishing Budd Lake

EPA Impairment Status

Budd Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

MercuryTemperature

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NJ02030105010040-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.44 km)

County Ranking

Ranked #6 of 12 lakes in Morris County

Nearby Lakes in Morris County

Frequently asked questions about Budd Lake

Where is Budd Lake?

Budd Lake is a lake in Morris County, New Jersey. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.

What is the water quality grade for Budd Lake?

Budd Lake in Morris County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25 µg/L.

Is Budd Lake safe to swim in?

Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Budd Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 25 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

Where this data comes from

87 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.

Collected and reported by

  • NJDEP Bureau of Freshwater and Biological MonitoringNJDEP_BFBM87 samples · 2022–2023

Analytical methods

  • Phosphorus by Colorimetry
  • 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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