Payne Lake
Payne Lake
Currently, no lake associate exists. If you want to start a lake association, please get in touch with Indian River Lakes Conservancy.
Small lake with towering rocky cliffs, homes to Peregrine falcons. You will also see bald eagles, osprey, loons, and herons to name a few. This is a perfect lake for kayaking.
Payne Lake is one of those gems of the Indian River Lakes. It’s a gem because it has few residents and a well-maintained state launch. River It is bordered on the west side by Pulpit Rock State Forest which will leave that side of the lake environmentally protected. Payne Lake does not outlet into the Indian River, but rather the Oswegatchie River.
Fish Species
Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Tiger Muskellunge, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Perch
Invasive Species
Aquatic: Eurasian Watermilfoil
Lake Statistics
Payne Lake is a very shallow lake with a mean depth of 6.5 feet and the deepest place in the center at 15 feet. The nutrient content is high and it is considered a eutrophic lake. It is susceptible to algae blooms. In 2014 and 2015, the lake was listed as having a blue-green algae bloom. There is little information about the official water quality content of Payne Lake.
Wildlife & Water Quality
Payne Lake is shallow and is nutrient rich. You will find an abundant amount of wildlife. Bald eagles live here along with peregrine falcons, loons, herons, beavers, turtles, etc. We occasionally see black bears, swans, otters, mink, and turkeys.
History
Payne Lake is located in the Village of Antwerp, just outside the hamlet of Oxbow. Early settlers used to speak of the lake on the Oxbow Road as Vrooman’s Lake, after the early hunter and settler who is one of the men credited with the founding of the hamlet of Oxbow.
Peter Vrooman built a log house on the big bend of the Oswegatchie River in the early 1800s which he opened as a public house for travelers making their way through the new country.
Roselle Payne built a steam sawmill on the shore of the lake in 1850. The mill cut hemlock for the plank roads that were being constructed around the area. As time went people in the area started to refer to the lake as Payne Lake.
Lake Uses
Kayaking, fishing, and bird watching.
There is a 10 hp limit for watercraft.
Places to Expore
Located in Upstate New York near the Thousand Islands Region, this area is a haven for natural beauty, recreation, and wildlife.
Visit the Indian River Lakes region to hike, paddle, and connect with an incredible community.
