Elmer Lake
Elmer Lake in Salem County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 120 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 27.1 µg/L. Surface area: 36 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Area
- 36 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Elmer Lake →
Elmer Lake is a 36-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Salem County, New Jersey. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Salem County, Elmer Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2024-10-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 120 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 27.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 120 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 27.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Elmer Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Elmer Lake in Salem 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 Elmer Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Elmer 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 | 36 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Elmer Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Elmer Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Elmer Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Elmer Lake Dam, built primarily for recreation on the Muddy Run; earth-type dam, 12 ft tall and 600 ft long.
- Surface area
- 36 ac
- Normal storage
- 121 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 11.7 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- County of Salem
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NJ00618 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Elmer 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 NJ02040206150020-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.07 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 7 lakes in Salem County
Nearby Lakes in Salem County
Frequently asked questions about Elmer Lake
Where is Elmer Lake?
- Elmer Lake is a lake in Salem 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 Elmer Lake?
- Elmer Lake in Salem County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 120 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 27.1 µg/L. Surface area: 36 acres.
Is Elmer 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. Elmer Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 27.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore Elmer 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
40 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.
Collected and reported by
- NJDEP Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring
NJDEP_BFBM40 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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