Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township
Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township in Oakland County, Michigan has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 8.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.8 µg/L. Surface area: 49 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.8 ft
- Area
- 49 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township →
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Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township is a 49-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Oakland County, Michigan. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2019. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 28 other monitored lakes in Oakland County, Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township ranks #28 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2019-09-20. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township water quality
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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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Compare the safest swimming lakes near Detroit →
Get alerts for Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township →
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 27.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 14.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 27.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township in Oakland 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 49 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.71 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -21 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Duck Lake Dam (completed 1920), built primarily for recreation on the Paint Creek; earth-type dam, 15 ft tall and 139 ft long.
- Surface area
- 49 ac
- Normal storage
- 50 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 350 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 33 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Charter Township of Orion
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00698 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.05 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040900030105-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.93 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #28 of 29 lakes in Oakland County
Nearby Lakes in Oakland County
Frequently asked questions about Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township
Where is Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township?
- Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township is a lake in Oakland County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township?
- Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township in Oakland County, Michigan has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 8.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.8 µg/L. Surface area: 49 acres.
Is Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 14.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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Where this data comes from
41 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2018–2019. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS41 samples · 2018–2019
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database