The State of New York’s Lakes 2026

Cleanest lakes in New York

Highest combined water-quality score, 2026.

1. 1.AMain Section Lake — Essex County15.7 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 5 µg/L chl-a
2. 2.AQueneska Island Lake — Essex County17.4 ft clarity · 15 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
3. 3.AOwasco Lake Platform — Cayuga County11.0 ft clarity · 6 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
4. 4.ASeneca Lake Platform — Seneca County11.5 ft clarity · 6 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
5. 5.AIsle la Motte Lake — Clinton County15.4 ft clarity · 9 µg/L P · 5 µg/L chl-a
6. 6.AIsle la Motte Lake — Clinton County12.5 ft clarity · 12 µg/L P · 5 µg/L chl-a
7. 7.AMain Section Lake — Clinton County14.8 ft clarity · 9 µg/L P · 5 µg/L chl-a
8. 8.BSodus Bay Lake — Wayne County8.0 ft clarity · 18 µg/L P · 9 µg/L chl-a
9. 9.CIrondequoit Bay Lake — Monroe County7.0 ft clarity · 28 µg/L P · 13 µg/L chl-a
10. 10.CSouthern Section Lake — Essex County2.6 ft clarity · 23 µg/L P · 10 µg/L chl-a

Most-polluted lakes

Lowest combined water-quality score among monitored lakes.

1. 1.DIrondequoit Bay Lake — Monroe County5.3 ft clarity · 24 µg/L chl-a
2. 2.DLk Ontario Lake — Monroe County126 µg/L P · 17 µg/L chl-a
3. 3.DSouthern Section Lake — Washington County2.0 ft clarity · 37 µg/L P · 14 µg/L chl-a
4. 4.CSouthern Section Lake — Essex County2.6 ft clarity · 23 µg/L P · 10 µg/L chl-a
5. 5.CIrondequoit Bay Lake — Monroe County7.0 ft clarity · 28 µg/L P · 13 µg/L chl-a
6. 6.BSodus Bay Lake — Wayne County8.0 ft clarity · 18 µg/L P · 9 µg/L chl-a
7. 7.AOwasco Lake Platform — Cayuga County11.0 ft clarity · 6 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
8. 8.ASeneca Lake Platform — Seneca County11.5 ft clarity · 6 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
9. 9.AIsle la Motte Lake — Clinton County15.4 ft clarity · 9 µg/L P · 5 µg/L chl-a
10. 10.AIsle la Motte Lake — Clinton County12.5 ft clarity · 12 µg/L P · 5 µg/L chl-a

Worst algae hotspots

Highest measured chlorophyll-a (algae) concentration.

1. 1.DIrondequoit Bay Lake — Monroe County24 µg/L chlorophyll-a

Trending lakes

Improving

1. 1.ABrant Lake — Warren County
2. 2.AFriends Lake — Warren County
3. 3.ALake Petonia — Chenango County
4. 4.ABrant Lake — Warren County
5. 5.ASouth Lake — Herkimer County
6. 6.ALittle Clear Pond — Franklin County
7. 7.ALittle Echo Pond — Franklin County
8. 8.AHope Pond — Franklin County

Declining

1. 1.CSouthern Section Lake — Essex County
2. 2.AIsle la Motte Lake — Clinton County
3. 3.AIsle la Motte Lake — Clinton County
4. 4.AMain Section Lake — Clinton County
5. 5.AMain Section Lake — Essex County
6. 6.ACanadice Lake — Ontario County
7. 7.AQueneska Island Lake — Essex County
8. 8.AWest Pond — Herkimer County