Watchu Pond
Watchu Pond in Sussex County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 16.6 µg/L. Surface area: 21 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.6 ft
- Area
- 21 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Watchu Pond →
Watchu Pond is a 21-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sussex County, New Jersey. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Sussex County, Watchu Pond ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2024-08-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria advisory
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 5.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 16.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 16.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Watchu Pond
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Watchu Pond in Sussex County, New Jersey — 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 Watchu Pond are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Watchu Pond
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Watchu Pond, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Watchu Pond
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Watchu Pond is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Reservoir Lake Dam, built primarily for recreation; earth-type dam, 12 ft tall and 370 ft long.
- Surface area
- 21 ac
- Normal storage
- 126 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 147 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.55 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Patriots' Path Council, B.S.A
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NJ00897 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.02 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Watchu Pond 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 NJ02040105070050-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.96 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #15 of 18 lakes in Sussex County
Nearby Lakes in Sussex County
Frequently asked questions about Watchu Pond
Where is Watchu Pond?
- Watchu Pond is a lake in Sussex County, New Jersey. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Watchu Pond?
- Watchu Pond in Sussex County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 16.6 µg/L. Surface area: 21 acres.
Is Watchu Pond safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Watchu Pond has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 16.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore Watchu Pond across LakeGrade
More New Jersey Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in New Jersey
Eutrophic Lakes in New Jersey
Where this data comes from
19 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.
Collected and reported by
- NJDEP Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring
NJDEP_BFBM19 samples · 2021–2024
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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