Lake Candlewood
Lake Candlewood in Fairfield County, Connecticut is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.6 ft visibility. Surface area: 5600 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.6 ft
- Area
- 5,600 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Why Lake Candlewood has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Lake Candlewood, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by your state environmental agency and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Lake Candlewood is a 5,600-acre lake in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2023-07-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Lake Candlewood water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Lake Candlewood
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.6 ft. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Lake Candlewood
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Candlewood in Fairfield 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Candlewood
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 5,600 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Candlewood, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Candlewood Lake (Squantz Cove)Public
Named access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, snapped within 5 km. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Candlewood
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Candlewood is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Rocky River Main Dam (completed 1929), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Rocky River; other-type dam, 107 ft tall and 952 ft long.
- Surface area
- 5,600 ac
- Normal storage
- 158,200 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 172,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 40.4 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- FirstLight Power Services LLC
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID CT00224 · Operator website
Graded lakes near Lake Candlewood
Lake Candlewood has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Fairfield County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Candlewood
Where is Lake Candlewood?
- Lake Candlewood is a lake in Fairfield County, Connecticut. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Candlewood?
- Lake Candlewood in Fairfield County, Connecticut is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.6 ft visibility. Surface area: 5600 acres.
Is Lake Candlewood safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lake Candlewood is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Candlewood?
- Lake Candlewood has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Candlewood Lake (Squantz Cove). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Candlewood across LakeGrade
More Connecticut Lake Rankings
Other Lakes in Connecticut
Mesotrophic Lakes in Connecticut
Where this data comes from
19 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS15 samples · 2020–2023 - CT DEEP Volunteer Water Monitoring Program (Volunteer)
CTVOLMON4 samples · 2023
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory