Findley Lake is a 330-acre mesotrophic lake in Chautauqua County, New York. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Muskellunge and Walleye. Compared to the 15 other monitored lakes in Chautauqua County, Findley Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-08-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 330 acres |
Where to stay near Findley Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Findley Lake
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 16 lakes in Chautauqua County
Nearby Lakes in Chautauqua County
Explore Findley Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Findley Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Findley Lake Dam (completed 1820), built primarily for recreation on the FRENCH CREEK; earth-type dam, 10 ft tall and 150 ft long.
- Surface area
- 330 ac
- Normal storage
- 500 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,275 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 5.1 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- FINDLEY LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS INC
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NY00752 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Findley Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NY0202-0004 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Findley Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Rose Foster SrstpNorth East · 4.6 mi away · NPDES PA0271632Recent violation
- Family Affair CampgroundNorth East · 4.8 mi away · NPDES PA0032026Recent 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: 2020-08-31
Monitoring stations: 1