Lime Lake is a 154-acre mesotrophic lake in Cattaraugus County, New York. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Tiger Muskellunge and Walleye.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-09-13. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.6 ft. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.6 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 154 acres |
Where to stay near Lime Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lime Lake
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Cattaraugus County
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lime Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lime Lake Outlet Dam (completed 1850), built primarily for recreation on the LIME LAKE OUTLET; earth-type dam, 12 ft tall and 200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 154 ac
- Normal storage
- 550 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 616 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- CATTARAUGUS COUNTY;LIME LAKE COTTAGE OWNERS ASSOCIATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NY00924 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.92 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Lime Lake 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 NY0104-0001 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lime Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Cattaraugus Co Dpw - Franklinville BarnMachias · 3.6 mi away · NPDES NY0291269
- 3 Olmstead ApartmentsDelevan · 4.7 mi away · NPDES NY0275506
- The Woods At Bear CreekFranklinville · 4.7 mi away · NPDES NY0098388
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: 2020-09-13
Monitoring stations: 1