Song Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Cortland County, New York. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Cortland County, Song Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2020-09-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 15.4 ft down. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.4 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Song Lake
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Fishing Song Lake
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 4 lakes in Cortland County
Nearby Lakes in Cortland County
Explore Song Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at New York's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Song 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 NY0602-0018 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.28 km)
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 Song Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Song Mountain Ski ResortPreble · 0.6 mi away · NPDES NY0154814Recent violation
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: 2020-09-20
Monitoring stations: 1