Ford Lake
Washtenaw County, Michigan974 acresView mapDirections
EGLE publishes the water-quality measurements for Ford Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Impaired · Mercury
- 30 ft max depth
- Limited data
Ask about Ford Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Ford Lake in Washtenaw County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 973.7 acres.
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Ford Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 30 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Ford Lake is a 974-acre lake in Washtenaw County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 30 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-10-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Ford Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Deep water30 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Ford Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, pesticides, pFAS, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Ford Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Ford Lake
These are the measurements EGLE publishes for Ford Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 36 µg/L. TSI 59.
| Metric | Value | EPA condition class |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Measured, not scored |
| Phosphorus | 36 µg/L | Measured, not scored |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 974 acres |
Fishing Ford Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.211 m/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Ford 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 MI040900050403-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.08 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
21 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Ford Lake 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.
Nearby Lakes in Washtenaw County
Frequently asked questions about Ford Lake
Where is Ford Lake?
- Ford Lake is a lake in Washtenaw County, Michigan. Its water-quality measurements are published by EGLE and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Ford Lake?
- Ford Lake in Washtenaw County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 973.7 acres.
Is Ford Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Ford Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, pesticides, pFAS, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Ford Lake?
- Ford Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 973.7 acres.
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Where this data comes from
7 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS7 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)