Emerald Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Newaygo County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including Black crappie, Blacknose shiner, and Bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 16 other monitored lakes in Newaygo County, Emerald Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-05. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Emerald Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Emerald Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.488 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.3 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 17 lakes in Newaygo County
Nearby Lakes in Newaygo County
Explore Emerald Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Newaygo 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 B Lakes in Michigan
Montcalm County · Clarity: 11 ft
Montcalm County · Clarity: 10.8 ft
Montcalm County · Clarity: 11 ft
Mecosta County · Clarity: 11.5 ft
Lake County · Clarity: 8 ft
Kent County · Clarity: 12.3 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Emerald Lake 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 MI040601020903-07 · Official waterbody report
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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: 2022-09-05
Monitoring stations: 1