Horsehead Lake
Mecosta County, MichiganView mapDirections
EGLE publishes the water-quality measurements for Horsehead Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- Public access
Horsehead Lake in Mecosta County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.5 µg/L.
Horsehead Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Mecosta County, Michigan. 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 Mecosta County, Horsehead Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-14. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Horsehead Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Horsehead Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Horsehead Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Horsehead Lake
These are the measurements EGLE publishes for Horsehead Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Phosphorus 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.5 µg/L. TSI 42.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 9ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 14µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 2.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 42 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Horsehead Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Horsehead Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 60°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 62°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (56°F) to its warmest (62°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 439 field readings (2021–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Horsehead Lake water temperature breakdown →
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Horsehead Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Horsehead Lake in Mecosta 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 Horsehead Lake
Prices for Oct 23–25, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Follow Horsehead Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fishing Horsehead Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2016–2023).
Water clarity
Improving7 years
Phosphorus
Stable-0.04 µg/L/yr7 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.09 µg/L/yr7 years
EPA Impairment Status
Horsehead Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601020801-03 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Mecosta County
Frequently asked questions about Horsehead Lake
Where is Horsehead Lake?
- Horsehead Lake is a lake in Mecosta County, Michigan. Its water-quality measurements are published by EGLE and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Horsehead Lake?
- Horsehead Lake in Mecosta County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.5 µg/L.
Is Horsehead Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Horsehead Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Horsehead Lake?
- Horsehead Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in September, from 439 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Can I fish at Horsehead Lake?
- Public access to Horsehead Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Michigan's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Horsehead Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Mecosta County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its readings
Michigan's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Michigan
Other Lakes in Michigan
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
166 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS166 samples · 2016–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database