Shelburne Bay Lake
Chittenden County, VermontView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #5 of 8 in the county
- Public access
Shelburne Bay Lake in Chittenden County, Vermont has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 14.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.8 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 14.1 ft
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 11.4 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 4.8 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Shelburne Bay Lake’s letter
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Shelburne Bay Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Chittenden County, Vermont. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Chittenden County, Shelburne Bay Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, VT DEC, last sampled 2024-10-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Shelburne Bay Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14.1 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Shelburne Bay Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 14.1 ft. Phosphorus 11.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.8 µg/L. TSI 41. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.4 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.8 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Recreation & Access
- Shelburne BayPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Shelburne Bay Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.175 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.09 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.11 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Shelburne Bay Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit VT05-11L01_01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.45 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 8 lakes in Chittenden County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Shelburne Bay Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Chittenden County
Frequently asked questions about Shelburne Bay Lake
Where is Shelburne Bay Lake?
- Shelburne Bay Lake is a lake in Chittenden County, Vermont. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Shelburne Bay Lake?
- Shelburne Bay Lake in Chittenden County, Vermont has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 14.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.8 µg/L.
Is Shelburne Bay Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Shelburne Bay Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Shelburne Bay Lake?
- Shelburne Bay Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Shelburne Bay. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Shelburne Bay Lake across LakeQuality
More Vermont Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Vermont
Mesotrophic Lakes in Vermont
Where this data comes from
244 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Vermont Dept of Environmental Conservation
1VTDECWQ244 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- EPA approved Alternate Test Procedure for 4500 P H. Has a 28 day hold without acid preservation.
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated 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