Owasco Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Cayuga County, New York. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Brown Trout, Lake Trout, and Rainbow Trout. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Cayuga County, Owasco Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Owasco Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Owasco Lake
Current Conditions
Latest reading Jul 6, 2026, 5:00 AM from USGS gauge 04235396. See live data ↗ — readings update every 15–60 minutes; this page refreshes on each build.
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 4 lakes in Cayuga County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Owasco Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Cayuga County
Explore Owasco Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across New York
Fish species and best lakes in Cayuga County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at New York's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More New York Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in New York
Mesotrophic Lakes in New York
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Owasco 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 NY0706-0009 · 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: 2020-09-15
Monitoring stations: 1