Burlington Bay Lake
Chittenden County, VermontView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #2 of 8 in the county
Burlington Bay Lake in Chittenden County, Vermont has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 14.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.7 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 14.8 ft
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 11.1 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 4.7 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Watch Burlington Bay Lake’s letter
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Burlington Bay Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Chittenden County, Vermont. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Chittenden County, Burlington Bay Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, VT DEC, last sampled 2024-10-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Burlington Bay Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14.8 ft of visibility
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. Burlington Bay Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nuisance exotic species, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 14.8 ft. Phosphorus 11.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.7 µg/L. TSI 41. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.1 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Fishing Burlington Bay Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.49 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.26 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.21 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Burlington Bay Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit VT05-10L01_02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.12 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 8 lakes in Chittenden County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Burlington Bay Lake 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 Chittenden County
Frequently asked questions about Burlington Bay Lake
Where is Burlington Bay Lake?
- Burlington Bay Lake is a lake in Chittenden County, Vermont. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Burlington Bay Lake?
- Burlington Bay Lake in Chittenden County, Vermont has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 14.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.7 µg/L.
Is Burlington Bay Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Burlington Bay Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nuisance exotic species, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Burlington Bay Lake across LakeQuality
More Vermont Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Vermont
Mesotrophic Lakes in Vermont
Where this data comes from
252 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Vermont Dept of Environmental Conservation
1VTDECWQ252 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- 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
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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