Shawnee Lake
Bedford County, Pennsylvania445 acresView mapDirections
PA DEP publishes the water-quality measurements for Shawnee Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- 31 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Shawnee Lake in Bedford County, Pennsylvania has water-quality measurements published by PA DEP, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 53 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 37.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 445 acres.
Shawnee Lake is a 445-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Bedford County, Pennsylvania with a maximum depth of 31 feet (8-foot average). Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, PA DEP, last sampled 2019-11-05. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Shawnee Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Deep water31 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. Shawnee Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Shawnee 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 Shawnee Lake
These are the measurements PA DEP publishes for Shawnee 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 53 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 37.4 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 | 53µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 37.4µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Ask about Shawnee Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Lake Details
Max depth
31 ft
Average depth
8.3 ft
Surface area
445 acres
Shoreline
7.3 mi
Public access
Yes
Listed by PA DEP
Recreation & Access
- Shawnee State Park - #2 Picnic AreaPublic
- Shawnee State Park - ColvinPublic
- Shawnee State Park - Kegg RunPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Shawnee Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shawnee Lake in Bedford 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 Shawnee Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Shawnee Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Shawnee Lake → · more Pennsylvania lake trips
Follow Shawnee Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fishing Shawnee Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Shawnee Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit PA-LRP-02050303001015 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Bedford County
Frequently asked questions about Shawnee Lake
Where is Shawnee Lake?
- Shawnee Lake is a lake in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Its water-quality measurements are published by PA DEP and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Shawnee Lake?
- Shawnee Lake in Bedford County, Pennsylvania has water-quality measurements published by PA DEP, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 53 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 37.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 445 acres.
Is Shawnee Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Shawnee Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Shawnee Lake?
- Shawnee Lake has a maximum depth of 31 feet and an average depth of 8.3 feet. The lake covers 445 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Shawnee Lake?
- Shawnee Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Shawnee State Park - #2 Picnic Area, Shawnee State Park - Colvin, Shawnee State Park - Kegg Run. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Shawnee Lake?
- Shawnee Lake has 3 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.
Explore Shawnee Lake across LakeQuality
More lakes in Pennsylvania
Other Lakes in Pennsylvania
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Pennsylvania
Where this data comes from
Measurements for Shawnee 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