West Branch Lake
Pictou, Nova Scotia45 haView mapDirections
No A–F letter for this lake. The letter is scored against EPA reference conditions for a lake’s ecoregion, and those stop at the US border. Here is what has been measured.
- 16 ft max depth
- Limited data
West Branch Lake in Pictou, Nova Scotia has water-quality measurements published by NSECC and no A–F letter. The letter's EPA reference conditions stop at the US border. Water clarity: 0.9 m visibility. Phosphorus: 6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16.4 ft. Surface area: 112.4 acres.
- Clarity
- 0.9 m
- Max depth
- 5 m
- Area
- 45 ha
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Why West Branch Lake has no A–F letter
The LakeQuality letter is scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment reference conditions for a lake’s ecoregion, and those stop at the US border. There is no reference condition for Nova Scotia, so the scale cannot be applied to West Branch Lake at any level of sampling. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
This is not a gap in the monitoring record. NSECC publishes these measurements directly, and everything below that has been measured is reported on this page as NSECC reports it.
Monitoring: Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change. Read the full grading methodology.
West Branch Lake is a 112-acre lake in Pictou County, Nova Scotia with a maximum depth of 16 feet (7-foot average).
Source: Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change — not the EPA Water Quality Portal, last sampled 2002-09-25. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for West Branch Lake
These are the measurements NSECC publishes for West Branch Lake. No A–F letter applies here: see why.
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.7 µg/L. TSI 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.9 m | Measured, not scored |
| Phosphorus | 6 µg/L | Measured, not scored |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.7 µg/L | Measured, not scored |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 5 m |
| Average Depth | 2 m |
| Surface Area | 45 ha |
Fishing West Branch Lake
Nearby Lakes in Pictou
Frequently asked questions about West Branch Lake
Where is West Branch Lake?
- West Branch Lake is a lake in Pictou, Nova Scotia. Its water-quality measurements are published by NSECC, and it carries no A–F letter, because no reference condition exists for lakes in this region, so the assessment thresholds behind the A–F scale cannot be applied here.
What is the water quality grade for West Branch Lake?
- West Branch Lake in Pictou, Nova Scotia has water-quality measurements published by NSECC and no A–F letter. The letter's EPA reference conditions stop at the US border. Water clarity: 0.9 m visibility. Phosphorus: 6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16.4 ft. Surface area: 112.4 acres.
Is West Branch Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is West Branch Lake?
- West Branch Lake has a maximum depth of 16.4 feet and an average depth of 6.6 feet. The lake covers 112.4 acres.
Explore West Branch Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 1975–2002. Retrieved from Nova Scotia open data (not the EPA Water Quality Portal) on 2026-08-16.
Collected and reported by
- NSDAF
NSDAF1 sample · 2002 - Lands and Forests
Lands and Forests1 sample · 1975
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
14
Canadian lakes are published with the measurements their provincial programme reports, and without a LakeQuality A–F letter. The letter is scored against EPA reference conditions for a lake’s ecoregion, and the EPA does not survey these lakes. See how grades are calculated and data sources.