Muskegon Lake
Muskegon Lake in Muskegon County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 66 ft. Surface area: 4197.7 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.8 ft
- Max depth
- 66 ft
- Area
- 4,198 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Muskegon County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
Free interactive depth-contour map of Muskegon Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 66 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Muskegon Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Muskegon Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Muskegon Lake is a 4,198-acre lake in Muskegon County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 66 feet. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including Common carp, Golden redhorse, and Golden shiner. Public access is available with 8 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2021-06-29. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Muskegon Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Muskegon Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Muskegon Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Muskegon Lake in Muskegon County, Michigan — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Muskegon Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Muskegon Lake → · more Michigan lake trips
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 66 ft |
| Surface Area | 4,198 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Grand TruckPublic
- Muskegon RiverPublic
- Fisherman's LandingPublic
- Muskegon State ParkPublic
- Cottage GrovePublic
- Muskegon Log BoomingPublic
Showing 6 of 8 documented landings from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory.
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Muskegon Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
EPA Impairment Status
Muskegon Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601021003-02 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
46 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Muskegon Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Ceco-B C Cobb Power PltMuskegon · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MI0001520Major
- Former B C Cobb Ash PondsMuskegon · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MI0060248Recent violation
- Mahle Inc-Muskegon Hts ComplexMuskegon Heights · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MI0004057Recent violation
- Muskegon Heights MS4-MuskegonMuskegon Heights · 3.3 mi away · NPDES MI0060065Recent violation
- Mdeq-Rd-Ott/Story SfNorth Muskegon · 4.9 mi away · NPDES MI0053309Recent violation
- Mich Steel IncMuskegon · 0.9 mi away · NPDES MI0025038
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Graded lakes near Muskegon Lake
Muskegon Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Muskegon County
Frequently asked questions about Muskegon Lake
Where is Muskegon Lake?
- Muskegon Lake is a lake in Muskegon County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Muskegon Lake?
- Muskegon Lake in Muskegon County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 66 ft. Surface area: 4197.7 acres.
Is Muskegon Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Muskegon Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Muskegon Lake?
- Muskegon Lake has a maximum depth of 66 feet. The lake covers 4197.7 acres.
What fish are in Muskegon Lake?
- Fish species found in Muskegon Lake include Common carp, Golden redhorse, Golden shiner, Lake herring, Shorthead redhorse, Silver redhorse, Spotted sucker, Tadpole madtom, White sucker, Yellow bullhead. Muskegon Lake is located in Muskegon County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Muskegon Lake?
- Muskegon Lake has 8 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Grand Truck, Muskegon River, Fisherman's Landing, Muskegon State Park, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Muskegon Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Muskegon County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Lakes in Michigan
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
7 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS7 samples · 2021
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory