Hess Lake
Hess Lake in Newaygo County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 765.3 acres.
- Max depth
- 20 ft
- Area
- 765 acres
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Water clarity at Hess Lake
Murky water. Across summers from 2018 to 2023, Hess Lake averaged 0.72 m (2 ft) of visibility down into the water, so you cannot see far below the surface in midsummer.
Nobody has taken a water sample here that we can find. Michigan's environmental agency measures clarity on lakes like this one from satellite images instead, which is why this page reports how clear the water is but carries no A–F grade.
Clear is not the same as clean. A lake can be easy to see through and still carry high nutrient levels, and a naturally tea-stained lake can be perfectly healthy. The A–F grade on other lakes is built from phosphorus and algae measured in a laboratory, and clarity alone cannot stand in for it.
The same satellite images put summer algae here at roughly 17.41 micrograms per litre. Estimating algae from orbit is far less exact than measuring clarity, so that figure is worth knowing and is not part of any rating.
Hess Lake is a 765-acre lake in Newaygo County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 20 feet (13-foot average).
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled recent years. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Hess Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedElevated nutrients
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Hess Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Trophic State Index: undefined.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) |
Where to stay near Hess Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hess Lake in Newaygo County, Michigan — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Hess Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 20 ft |
| Average Depth | 13 ft |
| Surface Area | 765 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1 mi |
Fishing Hess Lake
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Frequently asked questions about Hess Lake
Where is Hess Lake?
- Hess Lake is a lake in Newaygo County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no in-situ water sample; this lake is rated for water clarity from satellite observations instead.
What is the water quality grade for Hess Lake?
- Hess Lake in Newaygo County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 765.3 acres.
Is Hess Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Hess Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Hess Lake?
- Hess Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet and an average depth of 13 feet. The lake covers 765.3 acres.
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Where this data comes from
Measurements for Hess Lake come from the EPA Water Quality Portal. Per-sample source details are not recorded for this lake.