Lake Paran
Bennington County, Vermont38 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #3 of 8 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake Paran in Bennington County, Vermont has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.8 µg/L. Surface area: 38 acres.
- Area
- 38 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 15 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 1.8 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Lake Paran’s letter
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Lake Paran is a 38-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Bennington County, Vermont. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Bennington County, Lake Paran ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, VT DEC, last sampled 2025-08-19. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Paran is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake Paran is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4C) for algal growth, noxious aquatic plants, nuisance exotic species. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.8 µg/L. TSI 40. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 38 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Paran, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Lake ParanPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Paran
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Paran is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Paran (completed 1851), built primarily for recreation on the Paran Creek; earth-type dam, 50 ft tall and 720 ft long.
- Surface area
- 38 ac
- Normal storage
- 0 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 535 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 14.55 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- STATE OF VERMONT - AOT
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID VT00006 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Paran is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4C).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit VT01-03L05 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 8 lakes in Bennington County
Nearby Lakes in Bennington County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Paran
Where is Lake Paran?
- Lake Paran is a lake in Bennington County, Vermont. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Paran?
- Lake Paran in Bennington County, Vermont has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.8 µg/L. Surface area: 38 acres.
Is Lake Paran safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake Paran is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4C) for algal growth, noxious aquatic plants, nuisance exotic species. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Paran?
- Lake Paran has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Paran. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Paran across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Vermont's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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More Vermont Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Vermont
Oligotrophic Lakes in Vermont
Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Vermont Dept of Environmental Conservation
1VTDECWQ20 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- EPA approved Alternate Test Procedure for 4500 P H. Has a 28 day hold without acid preservation.
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory