Is Lobdell Lake West Basin; Argentine Township Polluted?
Yes — Lobdell Lake West Basin; Argentine Township in Genesee County, Michigan is on the EPA's Clean Water Act 303(d) impaired-waters list (2024 assessment cycle). It is cited for Mercury, PCBs. A formal cleanup plan — a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) — has been written. "Impaired" is a legal designation, separate from the lake's A–F water-quality grade: it means at least one designated use (such as swimming, aquatic life, or fish consumption) does not meet state standards for the listed pollutant.
EPA 303(d) Listing
| On 303(d) impaired list | Listed impaired |
| Cleanup plan (TMDL) | Completed |
| Assessment cycle | 2024 |
| EPA IR category | 4A |
| Location | Genesee County, Michigan |
Pollutants Cited
- Mercury — Mercury accumulates in fish tissue and is the single most common impairment in northern lakes. It usually arrives via atmospheric deposition from coal combustion rather than local discharge — which is why even remote, clear lakes can be mercury-impaired. It triggers fish-consumption advisories, not swimming closures.
- PCBs — Polychlorinated biphenyls are legacy industrial pollutants that persist in sediment and bioaccumulate in fish. Like mercury, PCB listings drive fish-consumption advisories.
Specific parameters in the EPA record: MERCURY IN FISH TISSUE, PCBS IN FISH TISSUE.
What this means for using Lobdell Lake West Basin; Argentine Township
Lobdell Lake West Basin; Argentine Township's listing is driven by contaminants that build up in fish (Mercury, PCBs), so the practical impact is on eating the fish, not on swimming. Follow the state fish-consumption advisory for Michigan. An impairment listing does not mean the lake is closed — most impaired lakes remain open for boating and swimming. It means a specific pollutant exceeds a standard for a specific use. Lobdell Lake West Basin; Argentine Township carries an overall water-quality grade of C — see the full breakdown on the lake report. The official EPA assessment is available in the ATTAINS waterbody report.