Watson Pond
Bristol County, Massachusetts65 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #2 of 5 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Watson Pond in Bristol County, Massachusetts has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.3 µg/L. Surface area: 65 acres.
- Area
- 65 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Chlorophyll-a
- 7.3 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Watson Pond’s letter
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Watson Pond is a 65-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Bristol County, Massachusetts. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2018. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Bristol County, Watson Pond ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, MassDEP, last sampled 2018-08-22. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Watson Pond is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), pathogens (E. coli, fecal), turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Chlorophyll-a 7.3 µg/L. TSI 50. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 65 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Watson Pond, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Watson Pond
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Watson Pond is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Watson Pond Dam, built primarily for recreation on the Mill River; earth-type dam, 9 ft tall and 225 ft long.
- Surface area
- 65 ac
- Normal storage
- 130 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 294 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- MA Department of Conservation and Recreation
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MA03258 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Watson Pond is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MA62205 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 5 lakes in Bristol County
Nearby Lakes in Bristol County
Frequently asked questions about Watson Pond
Where is Watson Pond?
- Watson Pond is a lake in Bristol County, Massachusetts. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Watson Pond?
- Watson Pond in Bristol County, Massachusetts has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.3 µg/L. Surface area: 65 acres.
Is Watson Pond safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Watson Pond is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), pathogens (E. coli, fecal), turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Watson Pond across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2018. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
MASSDEP3 samples · 2018
Analytical methods
- 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database