Lake Carey is a 263-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Pennsylvania DNR, last sampled 2020-07-12. 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 5.9 ft. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.9 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 263 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
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Fishing Lake Carey
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Wyoming County
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Explore Lake Carey across LakeGrade
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Eutrophic Lakes in Pennsylvania
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Carey is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Carey (completed 1876), built primarily for recreation on the BILLINGS MILL BROOK; earth-type dam, 13 ft tall and 109 ft long.
- Surface area
- 263 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,781 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,810 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 7 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- LAKE CAREY WELFARE ASSOCIATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID PA00887 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Carey is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit PA-LRP-02050106002805 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.09 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
9 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Carey under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 7 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Wyoming Cnty Healthcare CenterTunkhannock · 2.5 mi away · NPDES PA0036765Recent violation
- Oakwood Lake VillageTunkhannock · 2.9 mi away · NPDES PA0034088Recent violation
- Lake Carey WwtpTunkhannock · 3.1 mi away · NPDES PA0276073Recent violation
- Tunkhannock Boro Mun AuthTunkhannock · 4.1 mi away · NPDES PA0020940Recent violation
- Washington Park WwtfTunkhannock · 4.2 mi away · NPDES PA0060658Recent violation
- Westgate Water & Sewer Muni AuthTunkhannock · 4.4 mi away · NPDES PA0029777Recent violation
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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2020-07-12
Monitoring stations: 1