Hamilton Lake Central Basin is a mesotrophic lake in Dickinson County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Dickinson County, Hamilton Lake Central Basin ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-05. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Hamilton Lake Central Basin water quality
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Hamilton Lake Central Basin
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Fishing Hamilton Lake Central Basin
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.47 m/yr | 2 |
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Hamilton Lake Central Basin, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 31 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 6 lakes in Dickinson County
Nearby Lakes in Dickinson County
Explore Hamilton Lake Central Basin across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Dickinson County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Marquette County · Clarity: 11.8 ft
Marquette County · Clarity: 12 ft
Marquette County · Clarity: 14.3 ft
Iron County · Clarity: 12.5 ft
Iron County · Clarity: 13 ft
Marquette County · Clarity: 12 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Hamilton Lake Central Basin 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 · Matched by proximity (0.16 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: 2022-09-05
Monitoring stations: 1