Sunset Lake
Orange County, Vermont25 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #3 of 4 in the county
- 25 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Sunset Lake in Orange County, Vermont has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 13.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.6 µg/L. Surface area: 25 acres.
- Max depth
- ~25 ft est.
- Area
- 25 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 13.6 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 2.6 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Sunset Lake’s letter
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Sunset Lake is a 25-acre mesotrophic lake in Orange County, Vermont with an estimated average depth of about 25 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Orange County, Sunset Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, VT DEC, last sampled 2025-08-13. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 13.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.6 µg/L. TSI 41. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 13.6 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~25 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~17 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Vermont has not published bathymetry for Sunset Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Sunset Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Sunset Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Sunset Lake (completed 1850), built primarily for recreation on the Sunset Brook; masonry-type dam, 12 ft tall and 100 ft long.
- Surface area
- 25 ac
- Normal storage
- 0 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 180 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4.16 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- JANE DOERFER
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID VT00241 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Orange County
Nearby Lakes in Orange County
Frequently asked questions about Sunset Lake
Where is Sunset Lake?
- Sunset Lake is a lake in Orange County, Vermont. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Sunset Lake?
- Sunset Lake in Orange County, Vermont has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 13.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.6 µg/L. Surface area: 25 acres.
Is Sunset Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Sunset Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Sunset Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 25 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 25 acres.
Explore Sunset Lake across LakeQuality
13.4 mi away · 20 ft
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
35 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Vermont Dept of Environmental Conservation
1VTDECWQ35 samples · 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
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)