Bills Lake Central Basin is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Newaygo County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 16 other monitored lakes in Newaygo County, Bills Lake Central Basin ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Bills Lake Central Basin water quality
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 15.5 ft down. Chlorophyll-a: 1.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.5 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.7 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Bills Lake Central Basin
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Fishing Bills Lake Central Basin
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +3.735 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.8 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 17 lakes in Newaygo County
Nearby Lakes in Newaygo County
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Montcalm County · Clarity: 16.8 ft
Montcalm County · Clarity: 16 ft
Mecosta County · Clarity: 11 ft
Mecosta County · Clarity: 10 ft
Mecosta County · Clarity: 12.8 ft
Osceola County · Clarity: 16 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Bills Lake Central Basin 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 MI040500060401-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.16 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: 2023-09-17
Monitoring stations: 1