Sodus Bay Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Wayne County, New York. Water quality is graded B based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Chinook Salmon, Cisco, and Walleye. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Wayne County, Sodus Bay Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2023-09-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Phosphorus level: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | 18 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.1 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Sodus Bay Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sodus Bay Lake in Wayne County, New York — 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.
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sodus Bay Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.033 m/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Wayne County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Sodus Bay Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Wayne County
Explore Sodus Bay Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across New York
Fish species and best lakes in Wayne County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at New York's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Sodus 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
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NY0302-0020 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Sodus Bay Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Sodus Point (V) WwtpSodus Point · 1.4 mi away · NPDES NY0028088MajorRecent violation
- Sodus (V) StpSodus · 4.4 mi away · NPDES NY0021482Recent violation
- Sodus Bulk PlantSodus · 3.8 mi away · NPDES NY0107735
- Village Of Sodus Lake Water Treatment PlantSodus · 4.5 mi away · NPDES NY0246832
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-27
Monitoring stations: 1