Duck Lake
Muskegon County, Michigan265 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Pathogens (E. coli, fecal)
- #1 of 6 in the county
- Public access
Duck Lake in Muskegon County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.9 µg/L. Surface area: 264.7 acres.
- Clarity
- 11 ft
- Area
- 265 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 9 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 3.9 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Duck Lake’s letter
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Duck Lake is a 265-acre mesotrophic lake in Muskegon County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 22 documented fish species including Black bullhead, Black crappie, and Bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Muskegon County, Duck Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Duck Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing22 species recorded
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria advisory
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. Duck Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Phosphorus 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.9 µg/L. TSI 41. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 265 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Duck Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Duck Lake State ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Duck Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 8 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.199 m/yr | 8 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.41 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.26 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Duck 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 MI040601021001-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 6 lakes in Muskegon County
Nearby Lakes in Muskegon County
Frequently asked questions about Duck Lake
Where is Duck Lake?
- Duck Lake is a lake in Muskegon County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Duck Lake?
- Duck Lake in Muskegon County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.9 µg/L. Surface area: 264.7 acres.
Is Duck Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Duck Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
What fish are in Duck Lake?
- Fish species found in Duck Lake include Black bullhead, Black crappie, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Brook stickleback, Brook trout, Brown bullhead, Central mudminnow, Common shiner, Creek chub, Golden shiner, Lake herring, Largemouth bass, Mottled sculpin, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow smelt, Rock bass, Smallmouth bass, Spotted gar, White sucker, Yellow perch. Duck Lake is located in Muskegon County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Duck Lake?
- Duck Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Duck Lake State Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Duck Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
138 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS138 samples · 2016–2023
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory