Duncan Lake South Central Basin
Duncan Lake South Central Basin in Barry County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 130 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.5 ft
- Max depth
- 55 ft
- Area
- 130 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Duncan Lake South Central Basin is a 130-acre mesotrophic lake in Barry County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 55 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2017. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Barry County, Duncan Lake South Central Basin ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2017-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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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)
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 36.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 36.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Duncan Lake South Central Basin
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft |
| Surface Area | 130 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Duncan Lake South Central Basin
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.64 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Duncan Lake South Central Basin is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Duncan Lake Creek Dam, built primarily for other on the Duncan Creek; earth-type dam, 8 ft tall and 200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 130 ac
- Normal storage
- 520 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,170 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Ben Cychez
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI01099 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.65 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 7 lakes in Barry County
Nearby Lakes in Barry County
Frequently asked questions about Duncan Lake South Central Basin
Where is Duncan Lake South Central Basin?
- Duncan Lake South Central Basin is a lake in Barry County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Duncan Lake South Central Basin?
- Duncan Lake South Central Basin in Barry County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 130 acres.
Is Duncan Lake South Central Basin safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Duncan Lake South Central Basin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Duncan Lake South Central Basin?
- Duncan Lake South Central Basin has a maximum depth of 55 feet. The lake covers 130 acres.
Explore Duncan Lake South Central Basin across LakeQuality
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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
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Kent County · 9 ft
Kent County · 8.8 ft
Kent County · 9.3 ft
Kent County · 6.3 ft
Kent County · 11.3 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
40 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2017. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS40 samples · 2016–2017
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)