Big African Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Gogebic County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 39 other monitored lakes in Gogebic County, Big African Lake ranks #22 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.3 ft. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.3 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Big African Lake
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Fishing Big African Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1 m/yr | 3 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #22 of 40 lakes in Gogebic County
Nearby Lakes in Gogebic County
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade C Lakes in Michigan
Ontonagon County · Clarity: 6.5 ft
Iron County · Clarity: 9.3 ft
Iron County · Clarity: 8.5 ft
Iron County · Clarity: 6 ft
Iron County · Clarity: 7.3 ft
Iron County · Clarity: 7.5 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Big African Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040201020101-14 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.19 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-09-19
Monitoring stations: 1