Kinderhook Lake is a 350-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Columbia County, New York. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Tiger Muskellunge. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Columbia County, Kinderhook Lake ranks #5 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 6.1 ft. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.1 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 350 acres |
Where to stay near Kinderhook Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Kinderhook Lake
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 5 lakes in Columbia County
Nearby Lakes in Columbia County
Explore Kinderhook Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Kinderhook Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Kinderhook Lake Dam (completed 1886), built primarily for other on the VALATIE KILL; concrete-type dam, 18 ft tall and 230 ft long.
- Surface area
- 350 ac
- Normal storage
- 5,105 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 5,105 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 18.41 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- KINDERHOOK LAKE CORPORATION
All listed purposes: Other;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NY00887 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Kinderhook Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NY1310-0002 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
7 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Kinderhook Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Pilot Travel Center #146Schodack, Town Of · 3.3 mi away · NPDES NY0268747Recent violation
- Valatie (V) StpValatie · 3.4 mi away · NPDES NY0021806Recent violation
- Kleeber ComplexKinderhook · 2.5 mi away · NPDES NY0224588
- Hannaford Bros Dist FacSchodack Landing · 3 mi away · NPDES NY0223085
- Birch Hill CateringCastleton On Hudson · 3.7 mi away · NPDES NY0213021
- Washington Heights Mobile Home PkIthaca · 4.4 mi away · NPDES NY0262269
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: 2020-09-20
Monitoring stations: 1