Houghton Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Roscommon County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Black crappie, Longnose gar, and Shorthead redhorse. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Roscommon County, Houghton Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-08-28. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 3.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.3 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Houghton Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Houghton Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +3.06 m/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Current Conditions
Latest reading Jul 6, 2026, 5:15 AM from USGS gauge 442400084472801. See live data ↗ — readings update every 15–60 minutes; this page refreshes on each build.
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Houghton Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 21 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 6 lakes in Roscommon County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Houghton Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Roscommon County
Explore Houghton Lake across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Roscommon County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Clare County · Clarity: 11 ft
Gladwin County · Clarity: 4 ft
Clare County · Clarity: 13.5 ft
Clare County · Clarity: 14 ft
Crawford County · Clarity: 6.5 ft
Clare County · Clarity: 7.5 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Houghton Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Houghton Lake WwtpHoughton Lake · 3.7 mi away · NPDES MI0028312Recent violation
- Amoco Oil CoHoughton Lake · 0.4 mi away · NPDES MIG080159
- Mi Consulting & EnvironmentalHoughton Lake · 2.8 mi away · NPDES MIG080956
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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: 2023-08-28
Monitoring stations: 1