Burden Lake is a 369-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Rensselaer County, New York. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Rensselaer County, Burden Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-09-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 14.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.8 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 369 acres |
Where to stay near Burden Lake
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Fishing Burden Lake
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 7 lakes in Rensselaer County
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Burden Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Burden Lake Dam (completed 1916), built primarily for recreation on the TR-WYNANTSKILL; earth-type dam, 24 ft tall and 365 ft long.
- Surface area
- 369 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,598 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 7,600 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4.37 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Burden Lake Preservation Corporation;Daniel L. Alger;Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Liane Densmore;RENSSELAER COUNTY
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NY00275 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Burden Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NY1301-0025 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.33 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Burden Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Cedar Acres Trailer ParkNassau · 3.6 mi away · NPDES NY0222861Recent violation
- Town Of Schodack Sewer Dist No 5East Schodack · 4.6 mi away · NPDES NY0242012Recent violation
- Crooked Lake House, IncSand Lake · 2.1 mi away · NPDES NY0240648
- East Schodack Fire HeadquartersEast Schodack · 4.2 mi away · NPDES NY0088030
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2020-09-20
Monitoring stations: 1