Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township
Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township in Iosco County, Michigan has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.9 µg/L. Surface area: 1406.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 6 ft
- Area
- 1,407 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township is a 1,407-acre mesotrophic lake in Iosco County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Iosco County, Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
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Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Phosphorus level: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 34 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1,407 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 8 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.098 m/yr | 8 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.46 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township 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 MI040700070609-04 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.95 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 5 lakes in Iosco County
Nearby Lakes in Iosco County
Frequently asked questions about Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township
Where is Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township?
- Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township is a lake in Iosco County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township?
- Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township in Iosco County, Michigan has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.9 µg/L. Surface area: 1406.5 acres.
Is Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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Where this data comes from
182 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_MICORPS182 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database