Portage Lake
Portage Lake in Manistee County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 2114.6 acres.
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Max depth
- 60 ft
- Area
- 2,115 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Portage Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 60 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Portage 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 Portage 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.
Portage Lake is a 2,115-acre lake in Manistee County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 60 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Lake herring. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-11. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Portage Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Portage Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Portage Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Portage Lake in Manistee 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 Portage Lake
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Portage Lake → · more Michigan lake trips
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 60 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,115 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Portage Lake North Pierhead LighthousePublic
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 Portage Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +8.9 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -6 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Portage Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601040405-02 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Portage Lake
Portage Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Manistee County
Frequently asked questions about Portage Lake
Where is Portage Lake?
- Portage Lake is a lake in Manistee 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 Portage Lake?
- Portage Lake in Manistee County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 2114.6 acres.
Is Portage Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Portage 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 Portage Lake?
- Portage Lake has a maximum depth of 60 feet. The lake covers 2114.6 acres.
What fish are in Portage Lake?
- Fish species found in Portage Lake include Lake herring. Portage Lake is located in Manistee County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Portage Lake?
- Portage Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Portage Lake North Pierhead Lighthouse. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Portage Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS4 samples · 2022
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory