Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township
Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township in Iron County, Michigan has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 19.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Surface area: 531.4 acres.
- Clarity
- 19.3 ft
- Area
- 531 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township is a 531-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Iron County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Iron County, Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-08-27. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
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Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Crystal clear, you can see 19.3 ft down. Phosphorus level: 10 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 19.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 531 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Lake OttawaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township
- Lake Ottawa Camp0.4 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.03 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.57 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 21 lakes in Iron County
Nearby Lakes in Iron County
Frequently asked questions about Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township
Where is Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township?
- Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township is a lake in Iron County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township?
- Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township in Iron County, Michigan has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 19.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Surface area: 531.4 acres.
Is Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township?
- Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Ottawa. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township?
- Ottawa Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Lake Ottawa Camp. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
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Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Gogebic County · 6.5 ft
Gogebic County · 5 ft
Gogebic County · 3 ft
Gogebic County · 7.5 ft
Keweenaw County · 17 ft
Keweenaw County · 7.5 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
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Where this data comes from
45 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2017–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS45 samples · 2017–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles