Oceana County Lake Quality
Michigan, 5 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Oceana County has 5 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. Oceana County averages to a C. The distribution behind that average matters more than the letter: a few stressed lakes versus many decent ones can produce the same average as the inverse.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Pentwater Lake Northwest Basin; Pentwater Township (B) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Oceana County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Pentwater Lake Northwest Basin; Pentwater Township, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official Michigan fishing regulations.
Fishing in Oceana County
All Lakes in Oceana County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pentwater Lake Northwest Basin; Pentwater Township | B | 7 ft | - |
| 2 | Stony Lake West Basin North | C | 6.5 ft | - |
| 3 | Pentwater Lake | C | 7 ft | - |
| 4 | Stony Lake | D | 6.5 ft | - |
Other Counties in Michigan
See how Oceana County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 15 states.
Where to stay near Oceana County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.