Horsehead Lake is a 430-acre mesotrophic lake in Mecosta 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 with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Mecosta County, Horsehead 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 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
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 430 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Horsehead Lake
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Fishing Horsehead Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.405 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.9 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Horsehead Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 54 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 12 lakes in Mecosta County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Horsehead Lake holds Grade B. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Mecosta County
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Isabella County · Clarity: 10 ft
Osceola County · Clarity: 10.8 ft
Kent County · Clarity: 14.5 ft
Clare County · Good
Montcalm County · Clarity: 11 ft
Montcalm County · Clarity: 10.8 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Horsehead Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Horsehead Lake Dam (completed 1961), built primarily for other on the Gilbert Creek; earth-type dam, 7 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 430 ac
- Normal storage
- 600 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,800 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 10.27 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Mecosta County Drain Commissioner
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00941 · Operator website
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601020801-03 · 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