The State of New York's Lakes 2026

Cleanest lakes in New York

Highest combined water-quality score, 2026.

1. 1.AQueneska Island Lake — Essex County17.4 ft clarity · 15 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
2. 2.ASouth Lake — Herkimer County4 µg/L P · 1 µg/L chl-a
3. 3.AWest Pond — Herkimer County10 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
4. 4.ASquash Pond — Herkimer County11 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
5. 5.CMain Section Lake — Clinton County14.8 ft clarity · 12 µg/L P · 5 µg/L chl-a
6. 6.CLittle Clear Pond — Franklin County17 µg/L P · 5 µg/L chl-a
7. 7.CHope Pond — Franklin County11 µg/L P · 8 µg/L chl-a
8. 8.DSouthern Section Lake — Washington County2.0 ft clarity · 53 µg/L P · 14 µg/L chl-a

Most-polluted lakes

Lowest combined water-quality score among monitored lakes.

1. 1.DSouthern Section Lake — Washington County2.0 ft clarity · 53 µg/L P · 14 µg/L chl-a
2. 2.CMain Section Lake — Clinton County14.8 ft clarity · 12 µg/L P · 5 µg/L chl-a
3. 3.CLittle Clear Pond — Franklin County17 µg/L P · 5 µg/L chl-a
4. 4.CHope Pond — Franklin County11 µg/L P · 8 µg/L chl-a
5. 5.AQueneska Island Lake — Essex County17.4 ft clarity · 15 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
6. 6.ASouth Lake — Herkimer County4 µg/L P · 1 µg/L chl-a
7. 7.AWest Pond — Herkimer County10 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
8. 8.ASquash Pond — Herkimer County11 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a

Worst algae hotspots

Highest measured chlorophyll-a (algae) concentration.

No qualifying lakes with sufficient data.

Trending lakes

Improving

1. 1.ASouth Lake — Herkimer County
2. 2.ACarry Pond — Hamilton County
3. 3.AJockeybush Lake — Hamilton County
4. 4.AWillis Lake — Hamilton County
5. 5.BSochia Pond — Franklin County
6. 6.BSunday Pond — Franklin County
7. 7.DSouthern Section Lake — Washington County
8. 8.NRE Caroga Lake — Fulton County

Declining

1. 1.CMain Section Lake — Clinton County
2. 2.AQueneska Island Lake — Essex County
3. 3.AWillys Lake — Herkimer County
4. 4.AWindfall Pond — Herkimer County
5. 5.ALoon Hollows Pond — Herkimer County
6. 6.NRCanadice Lake — Ontario County