Howlands Lake is a 26-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Westchester County, New York. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Westchester County, Howlands Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-10-04. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Howlands Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 3.1 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 26 acres |
Where to stay near Howlands Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Howlands Lake in Westchester County, New York — 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 Howlands Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Howlands Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Howlands Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at New York’s top lakes →
Fishing Howlands Lake
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 6 lakes in Westchester County
Nearby Lakes in Westchester County
Explore Howlands Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across New York
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at New York's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
New York's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More New York Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in New York
Eutrophic Lakes in New York
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Howlands Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Howlands Lake Dam (completed 1895), built primarily for recreation on the KISCO RIVER; stone-type dam, 18 ft tall and 67 ft long.
- Surface area
- 26 ac
- Normal storage
- 132 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 184 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- BEDFORD LAKE PARK ASSOCIATION INC
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NY00973 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Howlands 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 NY1302-0147 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
19 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Howlands Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 5 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Khal Adas KashauBedford Hills · 2.7 mi away · NPDES NY0147249Recent violation
- Fox Hollow Sewer Co. WwtpNew Castle · 3.1 mi away · NPDES NY0165425Recent violation
- Bedford (T) Highway DeptBedford Hills · 3.2 mi away · NPDES NY0264229Recent violation
- Bedford Hills / Katohah Business SdBedford Hills · 3.6 mi away · NPDES NY0101885Recent violation
- Lewisboro Elementary SchoolSouth Salem · 3.8 mi away · NPDES NY0036684Recent violation
- Byram Lake Filtration PlantMt. Kisco · 1.3 mi away · NPDES NY0264113
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)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2020-10-04
Monitoring stations: 1