St. Albans Bay Lake
Franklin County, VermontView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #5 of 5 in the county
- Public access
St. Albans Bay Lake in Franklin County, Vermont has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 6.6 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 32.8 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 10.3 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near St. Albans Bay Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near St. Albans Bay Lake in Franklin County, Vermont — 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 St. Albans Bay Lake are listed below.
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St. Albans Bay Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Franklin County, Vermont. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 5 public boat landings. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Franklin County, St. Albans Bay Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, VT DEC, last sampled 2025-07-22. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What St. Albans Bay Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch5 documented ramps
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. St. Albans Bay Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nuisance exotic species, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 6.6 ft. Phosphorus 32.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 10.3 µg/L. TSI 53. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 32.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Recreation & Access
- Fairfield SwampPublic
- Saint Albans BayPublic
- Georgia Memorial Recreation AreaPublic
- Kill Kare State ParkPublic
- Burton Island State ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing St. Albans Bay Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.195 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.68 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.07 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
St. Albans Bay Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit VT05-07L01_02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.46 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 5 lakes in Franklin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
St. Albans Bay Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Franklin County
Frequently asked questions about St. Albans Bay Lake
Where is St. Albans Bay Lake?
- St. Albans Bay Lake is a lake in Franklin County, Vermont. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for St. Albans Bay Lake?
- St. Albans Bay Lake in Franklin County, Vermont has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.3 µg/L.
Is St. Albans Bay Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. St. Albans Bay Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nuisance exotic species, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on St. Albans Bay Lake?
- St. Albans Bay Lake has 5 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fairfield Swamp, Saint Albans Bay, Georgia Memorial Recreation Area, Kill Kare State Park, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore St. Albans Bay Lake across LakeQuality
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Other Grade D Lakes in Vermont
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Where this data comes from
207 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Vermont Dept of Environmental Conservation
1VTDECWQ207 samples · 2020–2025
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
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory