Echo Lake
Echo Lake in Union County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 115.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.5 µg/L. Surface area: 11 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.8 ft
- Area
- 11 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Echo Lake →
Echo Lake is a 11-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Union County, New Jersey. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Union County, Echo Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2023-10-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Echo Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited 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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 115.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 19.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 115.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 19.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Echo Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Echo Lake in Union County, New Jersey — 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Echo Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Echo Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Echo Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Echo Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Echo Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Echo Lake Dam (completed 1930), built primarily for recreation on the Normahegan Brook; concrete-type dam, 20 ft tall and 130 ft long.
- Surface area
- 11 ac
- Normal storage
- 45 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.5 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- County of Union
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NJ00133 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Echo 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 NJ02030104050050-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.24 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Union County
Nearby Lakes in Union County
Frequently asked questions about Echo Lake
Where is Echo Lake?
- Echo Lake is a lake in Union County, New Jersey. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Echo Lake?
- Echo Lake in Union County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 115.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.5 µg/L. Surface area: 11 acres.
Is Echo Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Echo Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 19.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore Echo Lake across LakeGrade
More New Jersey Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in New Jersey
Eutrophic Lakes in New Jersey
Where this data comes from
52 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.
Collected and reported by
- NJDEP Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring
NJDEP_BFBM52 samples · 2022–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 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