Hamlin Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Mason County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Chestnut lamprey, Northern pike, and Smallmouth bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Mason County, Hamlin Lake ranks #6 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
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Hamlin Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hamlin Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.92 m/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 8 lakes in Mason County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Hamlin Lake holds Grade B. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Mason County
Explore Hamlin Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Mason County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Oceana County · Clarity: 7 ft
Manistee County · Clarity: 10 ft
Manistee County · Clarity: 13.8 ft
Lake County · Clarity: 14 ft
Lake County · Clarity: 14 ft
Manistee County · Clarity: 8 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Hamlin 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 MI040601010104-02 · Official waterbody report
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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-09-15
Monitoring stations: 1