How to Find a Clean Lake in New York

New York State is home to some of the cleanest and the most polluted waterways in the world. Luckily, there are resources you can access to help you differentiate between the two. Follow these steps to find a clean lake in New York.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Go to the Environmental Protection Agency website. This agency has an online brochure that describes water quality in the country's lakes, reservoirs and ponds.
2. Visit the New York State Federation of Lake Association's website. NYSFOLA's Water Column provides the latest information on New York State's lakes.
3. Visit the Adirondack region. There are many clean lakes, including Lake Placid and Saranac Lake, in this picturesque region of New York State.
4. Plan a trip to the Finger Lakes region. All of the Finger Lakes are clean; Skaneateles Lake is particularly pristine. The Tri-County Skaneateles Lake Pure Water Association will provide you with information about efforts that are being made to keep this lake one of the world's cleanest.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't make the mistake of assuming that a lake in New York State is clean because of its geographic location. For example, Onondaga Lake is not far from the Finger Lakes, but it is one of the most polluted lakes in the country due to high mercury levels. Efforts are currently being made to clean up this lake in Syracuse.