Fawn Lake
Fawn Lake in Hillsdale County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38 µg/L. Surface area: 15 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.5 ft
- Area
- 15 acres
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Why Fawn Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Fawn Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity and phosphorus, but not algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Fawn Lake is a 15-acre lake in Hillsdale County, Michigan.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2016-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedBacteria advisory
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Fawn Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 4.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 38 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 38 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Fawn Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fawn Lake in Hillsdale 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 Fawn Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Fawn Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Fawn Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Fawn Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Manitou Properties Dam 1 (completed 1972), built primarily for recreation on the Tributary to Lime Creek; earth-type dam, 14 ft tall and 1,150 ft long.
- Surface area
- 15 ac
- Normal storage
- 30 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 97 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.18 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Manitou Waters Association
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00662 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.12 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Fawn 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 MI041000060105-05 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.31 km)
Graded lakes near Fawn Lake
Fawn Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Hillsdale County
Frequently asked questions about Fawn Lake
Where is Fawn Lake?
- Fawn Lake is a lake in Hillsdale County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Fawn Lake?
- Fawn Lake in Hillsdale County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38 µg/L. Surface area: 15 acres.
Is Fawn Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Fawn Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS18 samples · 2016
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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