Silver Lake
Addison County, Vermont110 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
↑ up from B at the last regrade
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Hydrologic alteration
- #2 of 5 in the county
- 40 ft max depth
- Limited data
Silver Lake in Addison County, Vermont has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 6.9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.2 µg/L. Surface area: 110 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.2 ft
- Max depth
- ~40 ft est.
- Area
- 110 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 6.9 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 1.2 µg/L
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Watch Silver Lake’s letter
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Silver Lake is a 110-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Addison County, Vermont with an estimated average depth of about 40 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Addison County, Silver Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, VT DEC, last sampled 2023-08-29. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Silver Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Camping1 public campground nearby
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. Silver Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4C) for hydrologic alteration, nuisance exotic species. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.2 ft. Phosphorus 6.9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.2 µg/L. TSI 37. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 6.9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~40 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~23 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 110 acres |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Vermont has not published bathymetry for Silver Lake.
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
Public campgrounds near Silver Lake
- Silver Lake Campground0.8 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Silver Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Silver Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Silver Lake (completed 1917), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Sucker Brook; earth-type dam, 30 ft tall and 283.5 ft long.
- Surface area
- 110 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,450 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,003 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Green Mountain Power Corporation
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID VT00196 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Silver Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4C).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit VT03-04L05_02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.18 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 5 lakes in Addison County
Nearby Lakes in Addison County
Frequently asked questions about Silver Lake
Where is Silver Lake?
- Silver Lake is a lake in Addison County, Vermont. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Silver Lake?
- Silver Lake in Addison County, Vermont has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 6.9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.2 µg/L. Surface area: 110 acres.
Is Silver Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Silver Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4C) for hydrologic alteration, nuisance exotic species. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Silver Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Silver Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 40 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 110 acres.
Are there campgrounds on Silver Lake?
- Silver Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Silver Lake Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Silver Lake across LakeQuality
2 documented falls within 10.9 mi, nearest Texas Falls
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Vermont's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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Where this data comes from
13 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Vermont Dept of Environmental Conservation
1VTDECWQ13 samples · 2023
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles