Sodus Bay Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wayne County, New York. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Chinook Salmon, Cisco, and Walleye. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Wayne County, Sodus Bay Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-09-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 6.2 ft. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.2 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Sodus Bay Lake
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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 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 4 lakes in Wayne County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Sodus Bay Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
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
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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More New York Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in New York
Eutrophic Lakes in New York
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
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Sodus Bay Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Lake Bluff Rv LlcWolcott · 1.7 mi away · NPDES NY0245429
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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2020-09-30
Monitoring stations: 1