Echo Lake
Windsor County, Vermont76 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Oligotrophic
- #2 of 8 in the county
- Public access
Echo Lake in Windsor County, Vermont has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L. Surface area: 76 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.9 ft
- Area
- 76 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 8.3 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 1.6 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Echo Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Echo Lake in Windsor County, Vermont — 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 Echo Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Vermont’s top lakes →
Watch Echo Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Echo Lake is a 76-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Windsor County, Vermont. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Windsor County, Echo Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, VT DEC, last sampled 2025-08-22. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Echo Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13.9 ft of visibility
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 13.9 ft. Phosphorus 8.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.6 µg/L. TSI 36. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 8.3 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 76 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Echo Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Echo Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.318 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.98 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.36 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Echo Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Amherst Lake, built primarily for recreation on the Echo Lake-Tr; concrete-type dam, 17 ft tall and 96 ft long.
- Surface area
- 76 ac
- Normal storage
- 0 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,050 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 19.06 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- LAKESIDE ASSOCIATES, INC.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID VT00131 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.97 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 8 lakes in Windsor County
Nearby Lakes in Windsor County
Frequently asked questions about Echo Lake
Where is Echo Lake?
- Echo Lake is a lake in Windsor County, Vermont. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Echo Lake?
- Echo Lake in Windsor County, Vermont has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L. Surface area: 76 acres.
Is Echo Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Echo Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Vermont's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Vermont's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Vermont Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Vermont
Oligotrophic Lakes in Vermont
Where this data comes from
99 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Vermont Dept of Environmental Conservation
1VTDECWQ99 samples · 2021–2025
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.