Hamilton Lake
Dickinson County, Michigan76 acresView mapDirections
Not Rated: one monitoring station are on record, but they measured water clarity only. LakeQuality’s A–F method grades total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity; clarity is shown, not scored.
- Impaired · Mercury
- 31 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Hamilton Lake in Dickinson County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 76.2 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.8 ft
- Max depth
- 31 ft
- Area
- 76 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Hamilton Lake’s letter
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Why Hamilton Lake has no grade
Hamilton Lake has monitoring on record from one station, but only water clarity was measured. LakeQuality’s A–F letter uses total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity against EPA National Lakes Assessment condition classes. With none of those grading measurements on record, Hamilton Lake is Not Rated — not an F. Its 11.8-foot median from 63 readings collected 2016–2022 is still shown as clarity, but clarity alone cannot earn a letter.
Not Rated is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. 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.
Hamilton Lake is a 76-acre lake in Dickinson County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 31 feet. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Hamilton Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.8 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Deep water31 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Hamilton Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Hamilton Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.8 ft. TSI 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 31 ft |
| Surface Area | 76 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Hamilton LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Hamilton Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.098 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.44 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.27 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Hamilton Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040301080407-01 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Hamilton Lake
Hamilton Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Dickinson County
Frequently asked questions about Hamilton Lake
Where is Hamilton Lake?
- Hamilton Lake is a lake in Dickinson 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 Hamilton Lake?
- Hamilton Lake in Dickinson County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 76.2 acres.
Is Hamilton Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Hamilton Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Hamilton Lake?
- Hamilton Lake has a maximum depth of 31 feet. The lake covers 76.2 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Hamilton Lake?
- Hamilton Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hamilton Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
63 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS63 samples · 2016–2022
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory