Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township
Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township in Montcalm County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 87 ft. Surface area: 113.2 acres.
- Clarity
- 14 ft
- Max depth
- 87 ft
- Area
- 113 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Montcalm County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township is a 113-acre mesotrophic lake in Montcalm County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 87 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2019. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Montcalm County, Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2019-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Phosphorus level: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township in Montcalm 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 87 ft |
| Surface Area | 113 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township
- → Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.48 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.23 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township 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 MI040500050301-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.95 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 4 lakes in Montcalm County
Nearby Lakes in Montcalm County
Frequently asked questions about Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township
Where is Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township?
- Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township is a lake in Montcalm County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township?
- Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township in Montcalm County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 87 ft. Surface area: 113.2 acres.
Is Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township?
- Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township has a maximum depth of 87 feet. The lake covers 113.2 acres.
What fish are in Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township?
- Fish species found in Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township include Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Creek chub, Iowa darter, Largemouth bass, Least darter, Northern longear sunfish, Rock bass, Sand shiner, Smallmouth bass, Spotfin shiner. Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township is located in Montcalm County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township?
- Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Derby Lake Central Basin; Sidney Township across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Montcalm County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Kent County · 13.5 ft
Kent County · 11.3 ft
Kent County · 9.3 ft
Kent County · 9 ft
Mecosta County · 11.8 ft
Kent County · 8.8 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
51 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2019. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS51 samples · 2016–2019
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 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)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory