Little Clear Pond is a mesotrophic lake in Franklin County, New York. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Brook Trout, Landlocked Salmon, and Round Whitefish. Public access is available. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Franklin County, Little Clear Pond ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2023-09-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 16.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 16.5 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Little Clear Pond
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Clear Pond
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.1 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Water Temperature
Little Clear Pond averages about 75°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Feb (about 34°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 33 field readings (2017–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Clear Pond water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 9 lakes in Franklin County
Nearby Lakes in Franklin County
Explore Little Clear Pond across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Franklin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Little Clear Pond is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NY0902-0005 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.45 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Little Clear Pond under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- St Regis Falls WwtpSaint Regis Falls · 2.8 mi away · NPDES NY0255858Recent 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)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-21
Monitoring stations: 1