Orange Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Orange County, New York. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Orange County, Orange Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-09-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Orange Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 2.4 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.4 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Orange Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Orange Lake in Orange 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 Orange Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Orange Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Orange Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at New York’s top lakes →
Fishing Orange Lake
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Orange County
Nearby Lakes in Orange County
Explore Orange Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across New York
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at New York's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
New York's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More New York Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in New York
Eutrophic Lakes in New York
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Orange 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 NY1301-0008 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
16 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Orange Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 7 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Walden (V) StpWalden · 4.8 mi away · NPDES NY0030490MajorRecent violation
- Chadwick Lake Water Filtration PltNewburgh · 2.1 mi away · NPDES NY0165921Recent violation
- The Polo ClubNewburgh · 2.2 mi away · NPDES NY0281522Recent violation
- Stewart Air National Guard BaseNewburgh · 3.2 mi away · NPDES NY0250457Recent violation
- Nob Hill Sd WwtpNewburgh · 4.1 mi away · NPDES NY0145599Recent violation
- Stewart AirportNewburgh · 4.2 mi away · NPDES NY0234915Recent 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)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2020-09-08
Monitoring stations: 1