Lake Moraine is a 260-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Madison County, New York. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Tiger Muskellunge. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Madison County, Lake Moraine ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-09-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 20.3 ft down. Trophic State Index: 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 20.3 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 260 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake Moraine
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Moraine
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 8 lakes in Madison County
Nearby Lakes in Madison County
Explore Lake Moraine across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Moraine is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Moraine Dam (completed 1836), built primarily for navigation on the PAYNE BROOK; earth-type dam, 56 ft tall and 800 ft long.
- Surface area
- 260 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,765 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 6,300 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 8.05 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- New York State Canal Corporation
All listed purposes: Navigation;Other;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NY00354 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Moraine is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NY0602-0007 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Moraine under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Hamilton (V) WpcpHamilton · 3.2 mi away · NPDES NY0020672MajorRecent violation
- Madison MarketplaceHamilton · 1.8 mi away · NPDES NY0262021Recent 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: 2020-09-27
Monitoring stations: 1