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Cayuga County, New York

Owasco Lake Platform

Grade AExcellent · 11 ft clarity

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Oligotrophic

Owasco Lake Platform is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Cayuga County, New York. Water quality is graded A based on 3 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 Platform ranks #1 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-10-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

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Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent

Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Phosphorus level: 6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 37.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)11 ftB
Phosphorus6 µg/LA
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)2 µg/LA
Trophic State Index (TSI)37Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Where to stay near Owasco Lake Platform

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Fish Species

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

Fishing Owasco Lake Platform

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #1 of 4 lakes in Cayuga County

Nearby Lakes in Cayuga County

More records, surveys & data sources

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area
197 sq mi
Surface area
6,578 acres
Mean depth (est.)
9.8 ft
Shoreline
24.7 mi
Elevation
702 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.

Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby

4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Owasco Lake Platform under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.

  • Owasco (T) Sd#1 Overflows
    Auburn · 3.2 mi away · NPDES NY0029297
  • Buckeye Pipeline Co-Auburn Plt
    Auburn · 4.6 mi away · NPDES NY0156311
  • Hidden Valley Trailer Park
    Sennett · 4.7 mi away · NPDES NY0244368
  • Auburn Bulk Plant
    Auburn · 4.8 mi away · NPDES NY0231711

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

Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)

Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Most recent sample: 2020-10-22

Monitoring stations: 1

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