Jamesville Reservoir is a 252-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Onondaga County, New York. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Tiger Muskellunge and Walleye. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Onondaga County, Jamesville Reservoir ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-09-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 5.3 ft. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.3 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 252 acres |
Where to stay near Jamesville Reservoir
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Jamesville Reservoir
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 4 lakes in Onondaga County
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Jamesville Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Jamesville Reservoir Dam (completed 1874), built primarily for navigation on the BUTTERNUT CREEK; concrete-type dam, 53 ft tall and 446 ft long.
- Surface area
- 252 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,900 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 6,250 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 46.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- New York State Canal Corporation
All listed purposes: Navigation;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NY00418 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Jamesville Reservoir under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Onondaga County DotJamesville · 0.7 mi away · NPDES NY0261785Recent violation
- Jamesville Penitentiary StpSyracuse · 0.8 mi away · NPDES NY0027651
- Hanson - Jamesville QuarryJamesville · 1.4 mi away · NPDES NY0002178
- Nys Dot MS4Various · 3 mi away · NPDES NY0313157
- Lafayette Central High SchoolLafayette · 4.2 mi away · NPDES NY0022471
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: 2020-09-20
Monitoring stations: 1