Bills Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Newaygo County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 16 other monitored lakes in Newaygo County, Bills Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-06-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 16 ft down. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Bills Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bills Lake in Newaygo County, Michigan — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Fishing Bills Lake
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 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Bills Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 90 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 17 lakes in Newaygo County
Nearby Lakes in Newaygo County
Explore Bills Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Newaygo County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
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 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
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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2023-06-19
Monitoring stations: 1