Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township is a mesotrophic lake in Montcalm County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Montcalm County, Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 3.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.5 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township
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Fishing Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.81 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.25 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township averages about 55°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Sep (about 57°F) and coldest in May (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 527 field readings (2011–2014) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 9 lakes in Montcalm County
Nearby Lakes in Montcalm County
Explore Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Isabella County · Clarity: 10.5 ft
Mecosta County · Clarity: 11 ft
Mecosta County · Clarity: 10 ft
Mecosta County · Clarity: 12.8 ft
Clare County · Clarity: 15 ft
Clare County · Clarity: 15 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
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
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: 2023-09-15
Monitoring stations: 1