Lake Carmel is a 240-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Putnam County, New York. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Putnam County, Lake Carmel ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-09-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Lake Carmel water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 5.6 ft. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.6 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 | 240 acres |
Where to stay near Lake Carmel
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Carmel in Putnam County, New York — 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 Carmel
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Lake Carmel?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Lake Carmel — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at New York’s top lakes →
Fishing Lake Carmel
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 13 lakes in Putnam County
Nearby Lakes in Putnam County
Explore Lake Carmel across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across New York
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at New York's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
New York's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More New York Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in New York
Eutrophic Lakes in New York
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Carmel is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Carmel Dam (completed 1930), built primarily for recreation on the MIDDLE BRANCH CROTON RIVER; earth-type dam, 25 ft tall and 475 ft long.
- Surface area
- 240 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,620 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,790 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 13 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- TOWN OF KENT
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NY00100 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Carmel is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NY1302-0006 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
14 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Carmel under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Fair Street Dpw FacilityCarmel · 1.6 mi away · NPDES NY0264041Recent violation
- Brewster High SchoolBrewster · 3.4 mi away · NPDES NY0029521Recent violation
- Camp RePatterson · 3.8 mi away · NPDES NY0215112Recent violation
- Patterson Hamlet WwtpPatterson, Town Of · 4.5 mi away · NPDES NY0265080Recent violation
- Texaco Service StationLake Carmel · 0.1 mi away · NPDES NY0219649
- Frangel Realty LlcCarmel · 0.3 mi away · NPDES NY0143863
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: 2020-09-27
Monitoring stations: 1