Crystal Lake is a 125-acre mesotrophic lake in Hillsdale County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including Black crappie, Bluegill, and Burbot. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Hillsdale County, Crystal Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.5 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.5 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 125 acres |
Where to stay near Crystal Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Crystal Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.71 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.4 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Water Temperature
Crystal Lake averages about 55°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 56°F) and coldest in May (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 703 field readings (2022–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Crystal Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 7 lakes in Hillsdale County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Crystal Lake holds Grade B. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- AFarewell Lake West Basin; Hanover TownshipJackson County · 4 mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- ADevils Lake Central Basin NorthLenawee County · 8.4 mi · Higher grade (B → A)
Nearby Lakes in Hillsdale County
Explore Crystal Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Crystal Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Crystal Lake Dam (completed 1976), built primarily for recreation on the Trib to Grand River; earth-type dam, 10 ft tall and 100 ft long.
- Surface area
- 125 ac
- Normal storage
- 90 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 290 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Hillsdale County Drain Commissioner
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00956 · Operator website
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
Most recent sample: 2023-09-22
Monitoring stations: 1