Newaygo County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 17 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Newaygo County's 17 graded lakes fall in the moderate-density bracket for Michigan. The county-level average smooths over real differences — a single agricultural watershed near the southwest corner can pull the average down even if the rest of the county runs clean. With an average grade of B, Newaygo County sits comfortably above the Michigan median.
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 Bills Lake (A); the most-stressed is Webinguaw Lake (F).
Quick Answers for Newaygo County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Bills Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
All Lakes in Newaygo County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bills Lake | A | 16 ft | - | - |
| 2 | Bills Lake Central Basin | A | 15.5 ft | - | - |
| 3 | Brush Lake; Wilcox Township; Section 1 | A | 25.5 ft | - | - |
| 4 | Brush Lake | A | 25.5 ft | - | - |
| 5 | Pickerel Lake East Central Basin; Garfield Township Sec. 1 | A | 10 ft | - | - |
| 6 | Fremont Lake North Central Basin;Sheridan Township Section 3 | A | 10 ft | - | - |
| 7 | Pickerel Lake | B | 10 ft | - | - |
| 8 | Sylvan Lake | B | 13.5 ft | - | - |
| 9 | Emerald Lake Central Basin; Brooks Township ; Section 6 | B | 10.8 ft | - | - |
| 10 | Sylvan Lake West Central Basin; Brooks Township | B | 12.8 ft | - | - |
| 11 | Fremont Lake | B | 10 ft | - | - |
| 12 | Emerald Lake | B | 10.5 ft | - | - |
| 13 | Pettibone Lake North Basin | B | 11.5 ft | - | - |
| 14 | Nichols Lake Northwest Basin | B | 14.7 ft | - | - |
| 15 | Kimball Lake Central Basin; Garfield Township | C | 4.5 ft | - | - |
| 16 | Kimball Lake | D | 4.5 ft | - | - |
| 17 | Webinguaw Lake | F | 2.5 ft | - | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.