Waterbody Intelligence

One of the most iconic estuaries in America. Mercury and PCBs are present but manageable with smart choices. Size-based guidance matters — smaller stripers are significantly safer.

The Colorado is one of the most over-allocated and chemically stressed rivers in the country. Mercury from upstream mines and selenium from agricultural irrigation are primary concerns. Advisories vary significantly by state and river section.

The Columbia is one of the great salmon rivers of the world. Contamination is highly location-dependent — salmon runs are generally safe, but legacy PCBs from industrial sites and PFAS from military bases are monitored. Lower river near Portland/Vancouver warrants more caution.

New England's longest river has recovered substantially since the Clean Water Act. The Connecticut now hosts one of the best shad runs in the Northeast. Mercury and PCBs remain at moderate levels, especially in lower sections.

The Delaware River has recovered substantially since the Clean Water Act. Striped bass and shad returns are strong. Some legacy PCB contamination remains from Trenton area industrial sites.

The Lower Fox River is one of the most PCB-contaminated rivers in the United States. Decades of paper mill discharge created a Superfund site that continues to require remediation. Wisconsin DNR strongly advises against sport fish consumption.

Galveston Bay is Texas's most productive estuary and heavily industrialized. The Ship Channel area carries significant PCB and PFAS contamination. Open bay species are generally safer than those near petrochemical facilities.

Green Bay's southern end carries significant PCB contamination from the Fox River, which drains a major paper mill corridor. Northern Green Bay is substantially cleaner. Perch and smaller walleye from the right areas can still be enjoyed.

GE dumped PCBs into the upper Hudson for decades. Despite EPA cleanup, contamination remains in sediment and fish tissue. NY DOH advisories remain among the most restrictive for any U.S. river.

The Enbridge oil spill in 2010 compounded an already PCB-impaired river. Michigan EGLE advisories for affected sections are highly restrictive. Do not consume sport catch from the Superfund reach.

Vermont and New York share advisory responsibility for Champlain. Mercury and PCBs are the contaminants monitored; because two states issue guidance, the advisory that applies depends on which side you fished.

Erie is one of the most productive fisheries in the Great Lakes and spans four jurisdictions — Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York — each of which issues its own consumption advisory. There is no single Lake Erie recommendation; check the advisory for the state and water you fished.

Michigan EGLE monitors Huron shoreline waters species by species and size by size. Mercury and PCBs are the contaminants named on its advisory records; consumption guidance comes from EGLE's Eat Safe Fish guide.

Lake Mead's mercury levels are moderate and manageable. Striped bass under 18 inches are a good choice. Nevada and Arizona both publish clear consumption guidance. A popular desert fishery worth understanding.

PCB levels vary dramatically by location. Northern basin is significantly cleaner than the southern end near Gary, Indiana and Chicago. Know where your fish comes from.

Florida's largest lake and a legendary bass fishery — but mercury levels in largemouth bass are among the highest in the state. The Florida Department of Health publishes the species-specific limits for the lake — consult its advisory for the guidance that applies.

The most contaminated Great Lake. NY DOH issues some of the most restrictive advisories in the nation. Legacy industrial contamination from the Niagara River corridor remains a serious concern.

Lake Pontchartrain sits in the shadow of the New Orleans industrial corridor. Legacy PCB contamination and ongoing mercury issues create moderate to elevated risk. Post-Katrina sediment disturbance has been studied extensively.

Lake St. Clair is a premier walleye and muskie fishery between Lake Huron and Lake Erie. Mercury and PCBs from the St. Clair River industrial corridor are elevated. PFAS has been detected in fish tissue near military and industrial sites.

The cleanest and largest of the Great Lakes. Superior's cold, deep, and vast — contamination is diluted over an enormous volume. Still, lake trout require caution due to PCBs.

One of the cleanest large lakes in North America. Tahoe's clarity is legendary and its fish quality reflects that. Reported contaminant levels are among the lowest of any major U.S. lake. California OEHHA and Nevada NDEP both publish guidance for Tahoe.

Wisconsin's largest inland lake and a world-class sturgeon fishery. Mercury and PCBs are the contaminants monitored here; Wisconsin DNR publishes the meal-frequency guidance by species and water.

New Hampshire's largest lake and one of the cleanest in New England. Reported contaminant levels are low. New Hampshire DES publishes the consumption guidance that applies to the lake.

Mille Lacs is one of Minnesota's most legendary walleye lakes and an important tribal fishery. Mercury is present at moderate levels — MDH guidance distinguishes by population group, especially for large predators.

The nation's largest river carries advisories that vary wildly from reach to reach. Northern Minnesota sections are cleaner than southern industrial corridors. Always check state-specific guidance.

The Ohio River drains one of the most industrialized regions in America. Contamination varies widely by reach — upper Ohio near Pittsburgh carries PCBs from legacy steel, while lower sections have PFAS from chemical plants in WV and OH.

The Potomac drains the nation's capital and much of the Mid-Atlantic watershed. It has recovered dramatically from near-dead conditions in the 1960s. Striped bass and shad are excellent choices today.

Puget Sound is stunning and biologically rich. PCBs from urban stormwater and PFAS from military bases are active monitoring priorities. Wild salmon remain an excellent choice.

Legacy gold mining has left mercury in Sacramento River sediments, but upper river salmon are generally safe. The Sacramento supports one of California's most important salmon runs. Agricultural runoff is an additional concern near the Delta.

Saginaw Bay has a long history of industrial contamination. The Saginaw River — feeding the bay — drains one of Michigan's most industrial watersheds. PCBs, dioxins, and PFAS are all elevated. Michigan EGLE advisories are among the most restrictive in the state.

The Salton Sea is an ecological crisis in slow motion. Selenium contamination from agricultural drainage is severe. The lake is hypersaline and shrinking, with intensifying contamination. California OEHHA publishes the consumption advisory for the Salton Sea.

Multi-contaminant estuary with one of the most detailed advisory systems in the country. OEHHA's Safe to Eat guides are location and species specific — essential reading before eating anything from the Bay.

The Susquehanna is the primary freshwater source for the Chesapeake Bay. Mercury and PCBs are present but manageable. American shad restoration is a conservation success story — this run has rebounded dramatically.

Tampa Bay has undergone remarkable restoration since the 1970s and is a model for estuary recovery. Fish quality has improved substantially. Mercury in pelagic species like Spanish mackerel and king mackerel remains the key concern.

The TVA-managed Tennessee River system is one of the most diversely regulated fisheries in the South. Mercury is the primary contaminant. TVA's reservoir system creates variable conditions — some impoundments are cleaner than others.

Portland Harbor is a Superfund site — one of the most contaminated river segments in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon DEQ advisories for the Portland reach are highly restrictive. Upper river sections are significantly cleaner.