Squash Pond
Herkimer County, New YorkView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · pH / acidity
- #3 of 6 in the county
- Public access
Squash Pond in Herkimer County, New York has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L.
- Typical in September
- 64°F
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 11 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 2 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Squash Pond’s letter
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Squash Pond is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Herkimer County, New York. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Herkimer County, Squash Pond ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NYSDEC, last sampled 2023-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Squash Pond is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pH / acidity, salinity / chlorides. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2 µg/L. TSI 38. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Water Temperature
Squash Pond typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in Feb (about 33°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 32 field readings (2017–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Squash Pond water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Squash Pond
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.95 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.5 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Squash Pond is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NY0801-0077 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.56 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 6 lakes in Herkimer County
Nearby Lakes in Herkimer County
Frequently asked questions about Squash Pond
Where is Squash Pond?
- Squash Pond is a lake in Herkimer County, New York. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Squash Pond?
- Squash Pond in Herkimer County, New York has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L.
Is Squash Pond safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Squash Pond is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pH / acidity, salinity / chlorides. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Squash Pond?
- Squash Pond typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September, from 32 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Squash Pond across LakeQuality
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Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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Where this data comes from
38 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- USGS New York Water Science Center
USGS-NY38 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- P, wu, WCA, persulfate CF color
- Chlorophyll a,fluorometric,uncor
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