China Pond is a 45-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Putnam County, New York. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Putnam County, China Pond ranks #1 for water quality.
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
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 15.2 ft down. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.2 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 | 45 acres |
Where to stay near China Pond
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Fishing China Pond
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 13 lakes in Putnam County
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Explore China Pond across LakeGrade
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
China Pond is a man-made reservoir impounded by the China Pond Dam (completed 1927), built primarily for recreation on the TR-W BRANCH CROTON RIVER; concrete-type dam, 13 ft tall and 5 ft long.
- Surface area
- 45 ac
- Normal storage
- 150 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 195 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- LAWRENCE PIAZZA
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NY01069 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
China 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 NY1302-0045 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.04 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of China Pond under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Clear Pool CampCarmel · 1.1 mi away · NPDES NY0098621
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: 2020-09-26
Monitoring stations: 1