Manistee County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 12 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Only 12 lakes in Manistee County carry an active grade. The county-level summary is therefore representative of those specific lakes, not necessarily of every water body in the county. The county-wide average lands at B — solid water quality with most lakes carrying clear summer transparency and low-to-moderate phosphorus.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Manistee North Lake (A); the most-stressed is Star Lake (C).
Quick Answers for Manistee County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Manistee North Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
All Lakes in Manistee County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manistee North Lake | A | - | - | 17.2 µg/L |
| 2 | Tippy Pond by Dam | A | - | - | 10.2 µg/L |
| 3 | Tippy Pond Pine Arm | A | - | - | 8.7 µg/L |
| 4 | Tippy Pond Manistee Arm | A | - | - | 12.7 µg/L |
| 5 | Manistee Lake South | A | - | - | 18.8 µg/L |
| 6 | Bear Lake Central Basin North; Pleasanton Township | A | 10.8 ft | - | - |
| 7 | Bear Lake East Basin; Pleasanton Township | B | 11 ft | - | - |
| 8 | Bear Lake | B | 11 ft | - | - |
| 9 | Portage Lake | B | 10 ft | - | - |
| 10 | Portage Lake Central Basin; Onekama Township | B | 13.8 ft | - | - |
| 11 | Star Lake; Norman Twp | B | 8 ft | - | - |
| 12 | Star Lake | C | 8 ft | - | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.