Lake Kemah
Lake Kemah in Sussex County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 22.1 µg/L. Surface area: 102 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.4 ft
- Area
- 102 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lake Kemah →
Lake Kemah is a 102-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sussex County, New Jersey. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Sussex County, Lake Kemah ranks #17 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2022-11-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria advisory
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
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 5.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 22.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 22.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Kemah
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Kemah in Sussex County, New Jersey — 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 Kemah are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Kemah
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 102 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Kemah, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lake Kemah
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Kemah is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Kemah Lake Dam (completed 1928), built primarily for recreation on the Paulkinskill River-TR; earth-type dam, 17 ft tall and 240 ft long.
- Surface area
- 102 ac
- Normal storage
- 608 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.3 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Kemah Lake Property Owners Association
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NJ00268 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Kemah 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 NJ02040105040030-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.77 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #17 of 18 lakes in Sussex County
Nearby Lakes in Sussex County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Kemah
Where is Lake Kemah?
- Lake Kemah is a lake in Sussex County, New Jersey. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Kemah?
- Lake Kemah in Sussex County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 22.1 µg/L. Surface area: 102 acres.
Is Lake Kemah 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 Kemah has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 22.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore Lake Kemah across LakeGrade
More New Jersey Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in New Jersey
Eutrophic Lakes in New Jersey
Where this data comes from
48 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.
Collected and reported by
- NJDEP Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring
NJDEP_BFBM48 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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