Cordley Lake
Livingston County, Michigan45 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #4 of 9 in the county
- 31 ft max depth
- Limited data
Cordley Lake in Livingston County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 45.3 acres.
- Max depth
- 31 ft
- Area
- 45 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Chlorophyll-a
- 1.4 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Cordley Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 31 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Cordley Lake is a 45-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Livingston County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 31 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2023. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including Blackstripe topminnow, Bluntnose minnow, and Brook silverside. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Livingston County, Cordley Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Cordley Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing7 species recorded
- Deep water31 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Cordley Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, pesticides, pFAS, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
No clarity data. Chlorophyll-a 1.4 µg/L. TSI 34. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 31 ft |
| Surface Area | 45 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cordley Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.042 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.17 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Cordley Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040900050307-24 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.64 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 9 lakes in Livingston County
Nearby Lakes in Livingston County
Frequently asked questions about Cordley Lake
Where is Cordley Lake?
- Cordley Lake is a lake in Livingston County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Cordley Lake?
- Cordley Lake in Livingston County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 45.3 acres.
Is Cordley Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Cordley Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, pesticides, pFAS, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Cordley Lake?
- Cordley Lake has a maximum depth of 31 feet. The lake covers 45.3 acres.
What fish are in Cordley Lake?
- Fish species found in Cordley Lake include Blackstripe topminnow, Bluntnose minnow, Brook silverside, Green sunfish, Largemouth bass, Northern longear sunfish, Western banded killifish. Cordley Lake is located in Livingston County, Michigan.
Explore Cordley Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS4 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)