Otter Creek Section Lake
Addison County, VermontView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #3 of 5 in the county
- Public access
Otter Creek Section Lake in Addison County, Vermont has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.1 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 9.8 ft
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 14.3 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 6.1 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Otter Creek Section Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Addison County, Vermont. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Addison County, Otter Creek Section Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, VT DEC, last sampled 2025-08-19. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Otter Creek Section Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water9.8 ft of visibility
- Boat launch4 documented ramps
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Otter Creek Section Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nuisance exotic species, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.8 ft. Phosphorus 14.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.1 µg/L. TSI 45. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14.3 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Recreation & Access
- Converse BayPublic
- Fort CassinPublic
- Lewis CreekPublic
- South SlangPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Otter Creek Section Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Otter Creek 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 VT04-01L01_04 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.83 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 5 lakes in Addison County
Nearby Lakes in Addison County
Frequently asked questions about Otter Creek Section Lake
Where is Otter Creek Section Lake?
- Otter Creek Section Lake is a lake in Addison County, Vermont. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Otter Creek Section Lake?
- Otter Creek Section Lake in Addison County, Vermont has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.1 µg/L.
Is Otter Creek Section Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Otter Creek Section Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nuisance exotic species, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Otter Creek Section Lake?
- Otter Creek Section Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Converse Bay, Fort Cassin, Lewis Creek, South Slang. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Otter Creek Section Lake across LakeQuality
More Vermont Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Vermont
Mesotrophic Lakes in Vermont
Where this data comes from
388 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Vermont Dept of Environmental Conservation
1VTDECWQ388 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- EPA approved Alternate Test Procedure for 4500 P H. Has a 28 day hold without acid preservation.
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory