Main Section Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Clinton County, New York. Water quality is graded A based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Clinton County, Main Section Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2024-10-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Main Section Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 14.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 9.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.8 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | 9.4 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.7 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Main Section Lake
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Fishing Main Section Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.21 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.01 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.05 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Main Section Lake averages about 67°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 72°F) and coldest in Apr (about 43°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 2,906 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Main Section Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Clinton County
Nearby Lakes in Clinton County
Explore Main Section Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across New York
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at New York's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
New York's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More New York Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in New York
Mesotrophic Lakes in New York
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Main Section Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NY1001-0001 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.63 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
7 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Main Section Lake 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.
- Plattsburgh Water Pollution Control PlantPlattsburgh · 1.4 mi away · NPDES NY0026018MajorRecent violation
- Country Sky Mobile Home ParkBeekmantown · 3.7 mi away · NPDES NY0240133Recent violation
- Champlain Park Sd WwtpPlattsburgh · 1.1 mi away · NPDES NY0020834
- Plattsburgh Coal Tar ConfinemePlattsburgh · 1.8 mi away · NPDES NY0183628
- Plattsburgh Intern'Al AirportPlattsburgh · 3.4 mi away · NPDES NY0217905
- Dr Palmer Veterinary ClinicPlattsburgh · 3.5 mi away · NPDES NY0230901
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: 2024-10-25
Monitoring stations: 1