Southern Section Lake
Washington County, New YorkView mapDirections
NY DEC publishes the water-quality measurements for Southern Section Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Public access
Southern Section Lake in Washington County, New York has water-quality measurements published by NY DEC, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.5 µg/L.
Southern Section Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Washington County, New York. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NYSDEC, last sampled 2024-11-08. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Southern Section Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch4 documented ramps
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyElevated nutrients
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Southern Section Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Southern Section Lake
These are the measurements NY DEC publishes for Southern Section Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 52.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 13.5 µg/L. TSI 62.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 52.7µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 13.5µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 62 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Southern Section Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Southern Section Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Nov (about 47°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (47°F) to its warmest (76°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,426 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Southern Section Lake water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Benson LandingPublic
- George Davis (Singing Cedars)Public
- Chipmans PointPublic
- Lake GeorgePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Southern Section Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Southern Section Lake in Washington 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Southern Section Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Southern Section Lake
Prices for Oct 23–25, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Southern Section Lake → · more New York lake trips
Follow Southern Section Lake’s readings
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Fishing Southern Section Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2024).
Water clarity
Improving4 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+2.32 µg/L/yr5 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.86 µg/L/yr4 years
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Southern Section Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Shelia White SubdivisionPutnam · 4.8 mi away · NPDES NY0266027
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.
Nearby Lakes in Washington County
Frequently asked questions about Southern Section Lake
Where is Southern Section Lake?
- Southern Section Lake is a lake in Washington County, New York. Its water-quality measurements are published by NY DEC and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Southern Section Lake?
- Southern Section Lake in Washington County, New York has water-quality measurements published by NY DEC, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.5 µg/L.
Is Southern Section Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Southern Section Lake?
- Southern Section Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October, from 1,426 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Southern Section Lake?
- Southern Section Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Benson Landing, George Davis (Singing Cedars), Chipmans Point, Lake George. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Southern Section Lake?
- Southern Section Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by New York's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Southern Section Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
218 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Vermont Dept of Environmental Conservation
1VTDECWQ218 samples · 2020–2024
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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory