Bass Lake
Marquette County, Michigan273 acresView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- Impaired · Habitat alterations
- 25 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Bass Lake in Marquette County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 272.9 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.5 ft
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 273 acres
- Phosphorus
- 14 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Bass Lake’s letter
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Why Bass Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Bass Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity and phosphorus, but not algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Bass Lake is a 273-acre lake in Marquette County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-07-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Bass Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12.5 ft of visibility
- Fishing16 species recorded
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Bass Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for habitat alterations. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Bass Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 12.5 ft. Phosphorus 14 µg/L. TSI 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 273 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bass Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +6.29 m/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Bass Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040301100302-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.02 km)
Graded lakes near Bass Lake
Bass Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Marquette County
Frequently asked questions about Bass Lake
Where is Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake is a lake in Marquette County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake in Marquette County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 272.9 acres.
Is Bass Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Bass Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for habitat alterations. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 272.9 acres.
What fish are in Bass Lake?
- Fish species found in Bass Lake include Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Central mudminnow, Common shiner, Fathead minnow, Golden shiner, Iowa darter, Johnny darter, Largemouth bass, Mottled sculpin, Northern pearl dace, Northern redbelly dace, Pumpkinseed, White sucker, Yellow perch. Bass Lake is located in Marquette County, Michigan.
Explore Bass Lake across LakeQuality
16.8 mi away · 100 ft
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Where this data comes from
11 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS11 samples · 2022–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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