Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township
Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township in Washtenaw County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 973.7 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 974 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Next lake in Washtenaw County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
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.
Why Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township 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 Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township, 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.
Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township 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.
Watch Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Compare the safest swimming lakes near Detroit →
Get alerts for Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township →
Water quality measurements for Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 36 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 36 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township in Washtenaw 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 Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 974 acres |
Fishing Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township
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 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)
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.
Graded lakes near Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township
Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Washtenaw County
Frequently asked questions about Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township
Where is Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township?
- Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township is a lake in Washtenaw County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — 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.
What is the water quality grade for Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township?
- Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township in Washtenaw County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 973.7 acres.
Is Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township?
- Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 973.7 acres.
Explore Ford Lake Central Basin; Ypsilanti Township across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Washtenaw County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Lakes in Michigan
Eutrophic Lakes in Michigan
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)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)