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LakeQuality

Lake Beseck

D
Grade D — Nutrient-rich
Nutrient-rich · #5 of 5 lakes in the county · Eutrophic · 116 acres
Limited DataEutrophic

Lake Beseck in Middlesex County, Connecticut has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 46 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31.7 µg/L. Surface area: 116 acres.

Area
116 acres
Type
Eutrophic
Public access
Yes

Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lake Beseck

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Lake Beseck is a 116-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Middlesex County, Connecticut. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Middlesex County, Lake Beseck ranks #5 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2022-07-28. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Grade only

Limited data

Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.

Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum

Compare the safest swimming lakes near Albany

Get alerts for Lake Beseck

Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)

No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 46 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 31.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)No recent samples
Phosphorus46 µg/LPoor
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)31.7 µg/LNot graded
Trophic State Index (TSI)62Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Where to stay near Lake Beseck

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Beseck in Middlesex County, Connecticut — 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Lake Beseck are listed below.

Top-rated places to stay near Lake Beseck

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Surface Area116 acres
Public AccessYes

No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Beseck, so its depth is not documented here.

Recreation & Access

1
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access
  • Beseck LakePublic

Named access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, snapped within 5 km. More lakes with boat ramps

Fishing Lake Beseck

Reservoir Info (USACE NID)

Lake Beseck is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Beseck Dam (completed 1846), built primarily for recreation on the Ellen Doyle Brook; masonry-type dam, 34 ft tall and 300 ft long.

Surface area
116 ac
Normal storage
1,256 ac-ft
Max storage
2,089 ac-ft
Drainage area
2.05 sq mi
Hazard class
Significant
Owner
Connecticut DEEP

Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID CT00381 · Operator website

EPA Impairment Status

Lake Beseck is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Algal growthNutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit CT4607-10-1-L1_01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.28 km)

County Ranking

Ranked #5 of 5 lakes in Middlesex County

Nearby Lakes in Middlesex County

Frequently asked questions about Lake Beseck

Where is Lake Beseck?

Lake Beseck is a lake in Middlesex County, Connecticut. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.

What is the water quality grade for Lake Beseck?

Lake Beseck in Middlesex County, Connecticut has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 46 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31.7 µg/L. Surface area: 116 acres.

Is Lake Beseck safe to swim in?

Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Lake Beseck has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 31.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

Are there boat ramps on Lake Beseck?

Lake Beseck has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Beseck Lake. Public access is listed as yes.

Where this data comes from

10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.

Collected and reported by

  • Connecticut Department Of Energy And Environmental ProtectionCT_DEP01_WQX10 samples · 2022

Analytical methods

  • Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
  • 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
  • Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
  • Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)

Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.

Other records on this page

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory