Windfall Pond
Herkimer County, New YorkView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · pH / acidity
- #5 of 6 in the county
- Limited data
Windfall Pond in Herkimer County, New York has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L.
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 9 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 1.6 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Watch Windfall Pond’s letter
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Windfall Pond is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Herkimer County, New York. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Herkimer County, Windfall Pond ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NYSDEC, last sampled 2023-07-05. 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. Windfall Pond is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.6 µg/L. TSI 35. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Fishing Windfall Pond
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.6 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +5 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Windfall Pond is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NY0903-0211 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.26 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 6 lakes in Herkimer County
Nearby Lakes in Herkimer County
Frequently asked questions about Windfall Pond
Where is Windfall Pond?
- Windfall Pond is a lake in Herkimer County, New York. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Windfall Pond?
- Windfall Pond in Herkimer County, New York has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L.
Is Windfall Pond safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Windfall Pond is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Windfall Pond across LakeQuality
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Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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Where this data comes from
7 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- USGS New York Water Science Center
USGS-NY7 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- P, wu, WCA, persulfate CF color
- Chlorophyll a,fluorometric,uncor
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