Crockery Lake Southwest Basin; Chester Township is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ottawa County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Ottawa County, Crockery Lake Southwest Basin; Chester Township ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Crockery Lake Southwest Basin; Chester Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 10.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.6 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Crockery Lake Southwest Basin; Chester Township
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Fishing Crockery Lake Southwest Basin; Chester Township
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.63 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.9 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Crockery Lake Southwest Basin; Chester Township averages about 55°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 57°F) and coldest in May (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 615 field readings (2011–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Crockery Lake Southwest Basin; Chester Township water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 5 lakes in Ottawa County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Crockery Lake Southwest Basin; Chester Township holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Ottawa County
Explore Crockery Lake Southwest Basin; Chester Township across LakeGrade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Crockery Lake Southwest Basin; Chester Township 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 MI040500060601-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.39 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Crockery Lake Southwest Basin; Chester Township under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Vans Contracting IncConklin · 1.3 mi away · NPDES MIG490308
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-12
Monitoring stations: 1