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LakeQuality

Crystal Lake

B
Grade B — Good
Good · #1 of 12 lakes in the county · Oligotrophic · 145 acres
Limited DataOligotrophic

Crystal Lake in Litchfield County, Connecticut has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.4 µg/L. Surface area: 145 acres.

Area
145 acres
Type
Oligotrophic

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Crystal Lake is a 145-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Litchfield County, Connecticut. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Litchfield County, Crystal Lake ranks #1 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2022-07-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Grade only

Limited data

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.

Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels

Compare the safest swimming lakes near Albany

Get alerts for Crystal Lake

Water Quality Grade: B (Good)

No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 35.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)No recent samples
Phosphorus9 µg/LGood
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)1.4 µg/LNot graded
Trophic State Index (TSI)35Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Where to stay near Crystal Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Crystal Lake in Litchfield County, Connecticut — 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.

Top-rated places to stay near Crystal Lake

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Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Surface Area145 acres

No bathymetric survey has been published for Crystal Lake, so its depth is not documented here.

Fishing Crystal Lake

Reservoir Info (USACE NID)

Crystal Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Crystal Lake Reservoir Dam (completed 1892), built primarily for water supply on the Sucker Brook; earth-type dam, 13 ft tall and 520 ft long.

Surface area
145 ac
Normal storage
1,680 ac-ft
Max storage
1,680 ac-ft
Drainage area
1.1 sq mi
Hazard class
Significant
Owner
Town of Winchester

Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID CT00104 · Operator website

County Ranking

Ranked #1 of 12 lakes in Litchfield County

Nearby Lakes in Litchfield County

Frequently asked questions about Crystal Lake

Where is Crystal Lake?

Crystal Lake is a lake in Litchfield County, Connecticut. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.

What is the water quality grade for Crystal Lake?

Crystal Lake in Litchfield County, Connecticut has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.4 µg/L. Surface area: 145 acres.

Is Crystal Lake safe to swim in?

Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Crystal Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

Oligotrophic Lakes in Connecticut

Where this data comes from

10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.

Collected and reported by

  • Connecticut Department Of Energy And Environmental ProtectionCT_DEP01_WQX10 samples · 2022

Analytical methods

  • Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
  • 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
  • Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
  • Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)

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.