Lake Placid is a 2,173-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Essex County, New York. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Landlocked Salmon and Rainbow Trout. Public access is available. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Essex County, Lake Placid ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-09-20. 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 23.1 ft down. Trophic State Index: 32.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 23.1 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 32 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 2,173 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake Placid
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Placid
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 9 lakes in Essex County
Nearby Lakes in Essex County
Explore Lake Placid 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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More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Placid is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Placid Dam (completed 1904), built primarily for recreation on the OUTLET BROOK; concrete-type dam, 7 ft tall and 131 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,173 ac
- Normal storage
- 112,996 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 112,996 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 19.85 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- LAKE PLACID SHORE OWNERS' ASSOCIATION INC.
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NY00216 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2020-09-20
Monitoring stations: 1