Main Section Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Essex County, New York. Water quality is graded A based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Essex County, Main Section Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2024-10-18. 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
Crystal clear, you can see 15.7 ft down. Phosphorus level: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.7 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | 9.5 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.6 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Main Section Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Main Section Lake in Essex County, New York — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places 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 | -0.38 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.34 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.18 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Main Section Lake averages about 50°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Sep (about 54°F) and coldest in Apr (about 39°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14,500 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 9 lakes in Essex County
Nearby Lakes in Essex County
Explore Main Section Lake 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
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: 2024-10-18
Monitoring stations: 1