Hemlock Lake is a 2,054-acre mesotrophic lake in Livingston County, New York. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Brook Trout and Lake Trout. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Livingston County, Hemlock Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2022-07-26. 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 12.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.5 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 2,054 acres |
Where to stay near Hemlock Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hemlock Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.1 m/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Livingston County
Nearby Lakes in Livingston County
Explore Hemlock 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)
Hemlock Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Hemlock Lake Dam (completed 1926), built primarily for water supply on the SPRINGWATER CREEK; earth-type dam, 12 ft tall and 3,200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,054 ac
- Normal storage
- 22,356 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 41,101 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 43.13 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY OF ROCHESTER
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NY00477 · Operator website
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 Hemlock Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Hemlock Lake - Shoreline, Outlet, Dam & ComplexHemlock · 3.5 mi away · NPDES NY0228478Recent violation
- Hemlock Operations Center / Maintenance GarageHemlock · 3.7 mi away · NPDES NY0245968
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-07-26
Monitoring stations: 1