First Lake
Halifax, Nova Scotia81 haView mapDirections
NSECC publishes the water-quality measurements for First Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- 76 ft max depth
- Limited data
First Lake in Halifax, Nova Scotia has water-quality measurements published by NSECC, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.5 m visibility. Phosphorus: 10.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 75.5 ft. Surface area: 199.9 acres.
First Lake is a 200-acre lake in Halifax County, Nova Scotia with a maximum depth of 76 feet (19-foot average).
Source: Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change — not the EPA Water Quality Portal, last sampled 1990-10-28. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What First Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.5 ft of visibility
- Deep water75.5 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether First Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for First Lake
These are the measurements NSECC publishes for First Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus 10.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.9 µg/L. TSI 39.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.5m | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 10.8µg/L | Measured, not scored The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 1.9µg/L | Measured, not scored The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 39 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about First Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Lake Details
Max depth
23 m
Average depth
5.8 m
Surface area
81 ha
Stays via Stay22
Stays near First Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near First Lake in Halifax, Nova Scotia — 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 First Lake
Prices for Oct 23–25, 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.
Follow First Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fishing First Lake
Nearby Lakes in Halifax
Frequently asked questions about First Lake
Where is First Lake?
- First Lake is a lake in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Its water-quality measurements are published by NSECC and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of First Lake?
- First Lake in Halifax, Nova Scotia has water-quality measurements published by NSECC, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.5 m visibility. Phosphorus: 10.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 75.5 ft. Surface area: 199.9 acres.
Is First Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is First Lake?
- First Lake has a maximum depth of 75.5 feet and an average depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 199.9 acres.
Explore First Lake across LakeQuality
More lakes in Nova Scotia
Other Lakes in Nova Scotia
Oligotrophic Lakes in Nova Scotia
Where this data comes from
13 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 1971–1990. Retrieved from Nova Scotia open data (not the EPA Water Quality Portal) on 2026-08-16.
Collected and reported by
- Soil and Water Conservation Society of Metro
Soil and Water Conservation Society of Metro3 samples · 1990 - Environment Canada- Shubenacadie Headwaters Enviro
Environment Canada- Shubenacadie Headwaters Enviro1 sample · 1974 - Submitting organization not recorded for these samples1 sample · 1971
- DFO
DFO1 sample · 1971
Some records reached the portal without a submitting organization. Those samples are counted above but not attributed.
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
119
Canadian lakes are published with the measurements their provincial programme reports. See where the data comes from and data sources.