Otisco Lake is a 2,291-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Onondaga County, New York. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Brown Trout, Tiger Muskellunge, and Walleye. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Onondaga County, Otisco Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 5.2 ft. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.2 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 2,291 acres |
Where to stay near Otisco Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Otisco Lake
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Onondaga County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Otisco Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Otisco Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Otisco Lake Dam (completed 1956), built primarily for recreation on the NINEMILE CREEK; concrete-type dam, 18 ft tall and 310 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,291 ac
- Normal storage
- 26,067 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 47,890 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 39.15 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- ONONDAGA COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY (OCWA)
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NY00753 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Otisco 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 NY0702-0011 · Official waterbody report
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2020-09-23
Monitoring stations: 1