Pinchot Lake
York County, Pennsylvania358 acresView mapDirections
PA DEP publishes the water-quality measurements for Pinchot Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Oxygen depletion (low DO)
- 30 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Pinchot Lake in York County, Pennsylvania has water-quality measurements published by PA DEP, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 33.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30.2 ft. Surface area: 358 acres.
Pinchot Lake is a 358-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in York County, Pennsylvania with a maximum depth of 30 feet (8-foot average). Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, PA DEP, last sampled 2018-10-04. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Pinchot Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Deep water30.2 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Pinchot Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Pinchot Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Pinchot Lake
These are the measurements PA DEP publishes for Pinchot Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 33.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 9.6 µg/L.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 33.5µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 9.6µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Pinchot Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Lake Details
Max depth
30.2 ft
Average depth
8.2 ft
Surface area
358 acres
Shoreline
9 mi
Public access
Yes
Listed by PA DEP
Recreation & Access
- Pinchot State Park - Boat Mooring #2Public
- Pinchot State Park - Boat Mooring #3Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Pinchot Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pinchot Lake in York County, Pennsylvania — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Pinchot Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Pinchot Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Fishing Pinchot Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Pinchot Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit PA-LRP-02050306002248 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in York County
Frequently asked questions about Pinchot Lake
Where is Pinchot Lake?
- Pinchot Lake is a lake in York County, Pennsylvania. Its water-quality measurements are published by PA DEP and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Pinchot Lake?
- Pinchot Lake in York County, Pennsylvania has water-quality measurements published by PA DEP, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 33.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30.2 ft. Surface area: 358 acres.
Is Pinchot Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Pinchot Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Pinchot Lake?
- Pinchot Lake has a maximum depth of 30.2 feet and an average depth of 8.2 feet. The lake covers 358 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Pinchot Lake?
- Pinchot Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pinchot State Park - Boat Mooring #2, Pinchot State Park - Boat Mooring #3. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Pinchot Lake?
- Pinchot Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Pennsylvania's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
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Where this data comes from
Measurements for Pinchot Lake come from the EPA Water Quality Portal. Per-sample source details are not recorded for this lake.
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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