Fulton Chain Lakes is a mesotrophic lake in Herkimer County, New York. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Herkimer County, Fulton Chain Lakes ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 10.3 ft. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.3 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Fulton Chain Lakes
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Fishing Fulton Chain Lakes
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 7 lakes in Herkimer County
Nearby Lakes in Herkimer County
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Fulton Chain Lakes 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 NY0801-0373 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.63 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Fulton Chain Lakes under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Inlet (T)/Hamlet Of Inlet WwtfInlet · 3.6 mi away · NPDES NY0265853Recent violation
- Hollywood Hills CondominiumOld Forge · 3.2 mi away · NPDES NY0079901
- Limekiln Lake CampgroundInlet · 3.7 mi away · NPDES NY0034363
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: 2020-09-22
Monitoring stations: 1