Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township
Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township in Lake County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L. Surface area: 891.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Area
- 892 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township is a 892-acre mesotrophic lake in Lake County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including Black crappie, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Phosphorus level: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township
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Water Temperature
Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 145 field readings (2014–2017) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 892 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Gleasons LandingPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township
- Gleason'S Landing Recreation Area Campground4.7 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
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township
- → Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.002 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.43 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.31 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 7 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township
Where is Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township?
- Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township is a lake in Lake County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township?
- Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township in Lake County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L. Surface area: 891.5 acres.
Is Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township?
- Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 145 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2014–2017). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
What fish are in Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township?
- Fish species found in Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township include Black crappie, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Burbot, Creek chub, Green sunfish, Johnny darter, Largemouth bass, Mimic shiner, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Sand shiner, Smallmouth bass, Tadpole madtom, Western banded killifish, White sucker, Yellow bullhead, Yellow perch. Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township is located in Lake County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township?
- Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Gleasons Landing. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township?
- Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Gleason'S Landing Recreation Area Campground. 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 A Lakes in Michigan
Mason County · 14 ft
Manistee County · 8 ft
Manistee County · 5 ft
Manistee County · 8 ft
Manistee County · Excellent
Oceana County · 13.5 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Compare Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
127 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS127 samples · 2016–2022
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles