Houghton Lake
Roscommon County, Michigan20,070 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
↑ up from B at the last regrade
- Oligotrophic
- #3 of 3 in the county
- 21 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 20069.7 acres.
- Clarity
- 5 ft
- Max depth
- 21 ft
- Area
- 20,070 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 14 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 2 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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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.
Houghton Lake is a 20,070-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Roscommon County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 21 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 1 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 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Roscommon County, Houghton Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-08-28. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Houghton Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Fishing6 species recorded
- Big water20,070 acres
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Phosphorus 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2 µg/L. TSI 45. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Current Conditions
USGS snapshot Jul 6, 2026, 5:15 AM from gauge 442400084472801 (Houghton Lake Nr Houghton Lake Heights, MI). Station page ↗ — a live reading replaces this snapshot when the gauge responds. Missing live data is not an all-clear.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 21 ft |
| Surface Area | 20,070 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Houghton LakePublic
- Houghton Lake State Forest ParkPublic
- Houghton Lake MarinaSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
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 |
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Roscommon County
Nearby Lakes in Roscommon County
Frequently asked questions about Houghton Lake
Where is Houghton Lake?
- Houghton Lake is a lake in Roscommon County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Houghton Lake?
- Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 20069.7 acres.
Is Houghton Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Houghton Lake?
- Houghton Lake has a maximum depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 20069.7 acres.
What fish are in Houghton Lake?
- Fish species found in Houghton Lake include Black crappie, Longnose gar, Shorthead redhorse, Walleye, White sucker, Yellow perch. Houghton Lake is located in Roscommon County, Michigan.
What is the water level at Houghton Lake?
- The USGS snapshot on this page for Houghton Lake is 1138.41 ft of water-surface elevation, recorded Jul 6, 2026, 5:15 AM at gauge 442400084472801. Current Conditions hydrates a live NWIS reading from that same station when the gauge responds. A missed live fetch is not an all-clear.
Are there boat ramps on Houghton Lake?
- Houghton Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Houghton Lake, Houghton Lake State Forest Park, Houghton Lake Marina. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Houghton Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Roscommon County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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Where this data comes from
13 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS13 samples · 2022–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory