South End Lake
South End Lake in Sussex County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 4.4 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near South End Lake →
South End Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sussex County, New Jersey. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Sussex County, South End Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2020-10-28. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria advisory
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 4.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 30 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near South End Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near South End Lake in Sussex County, New Jersey — 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around South End Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near South End Lake
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Fishing South End Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
South End Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the West Shore Trail Dam on the Wallkill River; earth-type dam.
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Estate of Bernard A. Handler
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NJ01018 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.4 km)
EPA Impairment Status
South End 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 NJ02040105070010-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.95 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 18 lakes in Sussex County
Nearby Lakes in Sussex County
Frequently asked questions about South End Lake
Where is South End Lake?
- South End Lake is a lake in Sussex County, New Jersey. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for South End Lake?
- South End Lake in Sussex County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L.
Is South End Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. South End Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore South End Lake across LakeGrade
More New Jersey Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in New Jersey
Eutrophic Lakes in New Jersey
Where this data comes from
19 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.
Collected and reported by
- Princeton Hydro LLC
PRINCETONHYDRO19 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- 4500 P B ~ Phosphorus, sample preparation method
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