Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Washtenaw County, Michigan. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 16 other monitored lakes in Washtenaw County, Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township ranks #17 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-10-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township
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Fishing Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 30 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #17 of 17 lakes in Washtenaw County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Washtenaw County
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township 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 MI040900050403-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.08 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
21 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 8 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Ycua Regional WwtpYpsilanti · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MI0042676MajorRecent violation
- Ford/Gm Willow Run Cr-LfYpsilanti · 2.2 mi away · NPDES MI0054909Recent violation
- Willow Run Airport MS4Ypsilanti · 2.4 mi away · NPDES MI0060221Recent violation
- Ycua Willow Run AirportYpsilanti · 2.5 mi away · NPDES MI0036960Recent violation
- Racer-Powertrain-Willow RunYpsilanti · 2.5 mi away · NPDES MI0043702Recent violation
- Wayne Disposal Inc LfBelleville · 3.7 mi away · NPDES MI0056413Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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: 2023-10-26
Monitoring stations: 1