Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township
Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township in Montcalm County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 70 ft. Surface area: 708.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Typical in August
- 56°F
- Max depth
- 70 ft
- Area
- 709 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township is a 709-acre mesotrophic lake in Montcalm County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 70 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Montcalm County, Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Compare the safest swimming lakes near Grand Rapids →
Get alerts for Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township →
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus level: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township
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Top-rated places to stay near Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township
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Water Temperature
Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township typically sits around 56°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 55°F. Usually warmest in Sep (about 57°F) and coldest in May (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 527 field readings (2011–2014) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 70 ft |
| Surface Area | 709 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Loon LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 8 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.513 m/yr | 8 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.54 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.32 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 4 lakes in Montcalm County
Nearby Lakes in Montcalm County
Frequently asked questions about Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township
Where is Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township?
- Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township is a lake in Montcalm County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township?
- Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township in Montcalm County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 70 ft. Surface area: 708.5 acres.
Is Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township?
- Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township typically sits around 56°F at the surface in August, from 527 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2014). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township?
- Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township has a maximum depth of 70 feet. The lake covers 708.5 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township?
- Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Loon Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township across LakeQuality
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Isabella County · 11 ft
Kent County · 13.5 ft
Kent County · 11.3 ft
Kent County · 9.3 ft
Mecosta County · 11.8 ft
Kent County · 9 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
154 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS154 samples · 2016–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory