Deer Lake is a 32-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Broome County, New York. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Broome County, Deer Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 4.6 ft. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.6 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 32 acres |
Where to stay near Deer Lake
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Fishing Deer Lake
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Broome County
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Explore Deer Lake across LakeGrade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Deer Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Deer Lake Dam, built primarily for recreation on the FLY CREEK; earth-type dam, 10 ft tall and 125 ft long.
- Surface area
- 32 ac
- Normal storage
- 119 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 119 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- DEER LAKE ASSOCIATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NY01476 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Deer 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 NY1404-0038 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.13 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 Deer Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Forest Lake CampgroundWindsor · 3.4 mi away · NPDES NY0230936Recent violation
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: 2020-09-14
Monitoring stations: 1