Otter Lake is a 135-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Oneida County, New York. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2020.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-09-27. 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 6.6 ft. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.6 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 135 acres |
Where to stay near Otter Lake
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Fishing Otter Lake
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Oneida County
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Otter Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Otter Lake Dam (completed 1880), built primarily for recreation on the OTTER LAKE OUTLET; earth-type dam, 8 ft tall and 127 ft long.
- Surface area
- 135 ac
- Normal storage
- 269 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 358 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- NYS DEC
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NY00804 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Otter 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 NY0801-0407 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.06 km)
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: 2020-09-27
Monitoring stations: 1