Fox Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Muskegon County, Michigan. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2022. 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 ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 1 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 77.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 77 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Fox Lake
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 #12 of 12 lakes in Muskegon County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Fox Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ADuck Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Fruitland TownshipMuskegon County · 8.2 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- BWhite Lake Middle Basin; Fruitland TownshipMuskegon County · 6.7 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- DFox Lake Central Basin; Dalton TownshipMuskegon County · 0 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Muskegon County
Explore Fox Lake 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 F Lakes in Michigan
Ottawa County · Clarity: 3 ft
Newaygo County · Clarity: 2.5 ft
Allegan County · Clarity: 3 ft
Mecosta County · Clarity: 3 ft
Van Buren County · Very Poor
Berrien County · Clarity: 3 ft
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Fox 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 MI040601010904-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.35 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: 2022-09-15
Monitoring stations: 1