Shubael Pond
Barnstable County, MassachusettsView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
↑ up from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #2 of 8 in the county
- 55 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Shubael Pond in Barnstable County, Massachusetts has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.8 µg/L.
- Max depth
- ~55 ft est.
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Chlorophyll-a
- 6.8 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Shubael Pond’s letter
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Shubael Pond is a mesotrophic lake in Barnstable County, Massachusetts with an estimated average depth of about 55 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2018. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Barnstable County, Shubael Pond ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, MassDEP, last sampled 2018-09-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Shubael Pond is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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 A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Shubael Pond is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
No clarity data. Chlorophyll-a 6.8 µg/L. TSI 49. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~55 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~8 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Massachusetts has not published bathymetry for Shubael Pond.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Shubael PondPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Shubael Pond
EPA Impairment Status
Shubael Pond 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 MA96126 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.34 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 8 lakes in Barnstable County
Nearby Lakes in Barnstable County
Frequently asked questions about Shubael Pond
Where is Shubael Pond?
- Shubael Pond is a lake in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Shubael Pond?
- Shubael Pond in Barnstable County, Massachusetts has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.8 µg/L.
Is Shubael Pond safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Shubael Pond is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Shubael Pond?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Shubael Pond, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 55 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Shubael Pond?
- Shubael Pond has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Shubael Pond. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Shubael Pond across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Massachusetts's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Massachusetts's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
Planning a trip around Cape Cod?
Shubael Pond is about 25 miles from Cape Cod National Seashore. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Cape Cod →More Massachusetts Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Massachusetts
Mesotrophic Lakes in Massachusetts
Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2018. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
MASSDEP3 samples · 2018
Analytical methods
- 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory