Squash Pond is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Herkimer County, New York. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Herkimer County, Squash Pond ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2023-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Squash Pond
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Fishing Squash Pond
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.95 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Squash Pond averages about 73°F at the surface in summer, 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 →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 7 lakes in Herkimer County
Nearby Lakes in Herkimer County
Explore Squash Pond across LakeGrade
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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More records, surveys & data sources
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)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2023-09-18
Monitoring stations: 1