Fox Lake Central Basin; Dalton Township is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Muskegon County, Michigan. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Blackchin shiner, Bluntnose minnow, and Golden shiner. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Muskegon County, Fox Lake Central Basin; Dalton Township ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Fox Lake Central Basin; Dalton Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 1 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 29 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 70.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 29 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 70 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Fox Lake Central Basin; Dalton Township
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Fox Lake Central Basin; Dalton Township
- → Fox Lake Central Basin; Dalton Township fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Fox Lake Central Basin; Dalton Township fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Fox Lake Central Basin; Dalton Township? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.35 m/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +25.6 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 12 lakes in Muskegon County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Fox Lake Central Basin; Dalton Township holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ADuck Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Fruitland TownshipMuskegon County · 8.2 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → A)
- BWhite Lake Middle Basin; Fruitland TownshipMuskegon County · 6.7 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
Nearby Lakes in Muskegon County
Explore Fox Lake Central Basin; Dalton Township across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Muskegon County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Michigan
Oceana County · Clarity: 6.5 ft
Newaygo County · Clarity: 4.5 ft
Ottawa County · Clarity: 3.5 ft
Kent County · Clarity: 6.3 ft
Kent County · Clarity: 6.3 ft
Van Buren County · Clarity: 6.5 ft
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Fox Lake Central Basin; Dalton 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 MI040601010904-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.38 km)
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
Most recent sample: 2023-09-18
Monitoring stations: 1