Lake James is a 900-acre mesotrophic lake in Roscommon County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including Bluntnose minnow, Common shiner, and Hornyhead chub. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Roscommon County, Lake James ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-10-05. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.8 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 900 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake James
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake James
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.61 m/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 6 lakes in Roscommon County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake James holds Grade C. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- AHiggins Lake East BasinRoscommon County · 11.1 mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)
- AIsland Lake Central Basin; Sherman TownshipGladwin County · 12 mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)
- BHoughton LakeRoscommon County · 9.7 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
- BGrass LakeGladwin County · 12.3 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
Nearby Lakes in Roscommon County
Explore Lake James across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake James is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake James Dam (completed 1962), built primarily for recreation on the Denton Creek; earth-type dam, 18 ft tall and 810 ft long.
- Surface area
- 900 ac
- Normal storage
- 750 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,465 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 41 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Lake James Property Owners Assoc
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00347 · Operator website
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 Lake James under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Denton Twp WwtpHoughton Lake · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MI0053317Recent violation
- Basils ServicePrudenville · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MIG080681
- Total Station #2588Prudenville · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MIG080907
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: 2022-10-05
Monitoring stations: 1