Lake Macatawa
Lake Macatawa in Ottawa County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 1808.2 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 1,808 acres
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Lake Macatawa has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Lake Macatawa, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Lake Macatawa is a 1,808-acre lake in Ottawa County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Round whitefish, Shorthead redhorse, and Silver redhorse. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2018-08-03. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Lake Macatawa
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Macatawa
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Macatawa in Ottawa 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Macatawa
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,808 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Macatawa
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Macatawa 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 MI040500020408-01 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Lake Macatawa
Lake Macatawa has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Ottawa County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Macatawa
Where is Lake Macatawa?
- Lake Macatawa is a lake in Ottawa County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Macatawa?
- Lake Macatawa in Ottawa County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 1808.2 acres.
Is Lake Macatawa safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lake Macatawa is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Lake Macatawa?
- Lake Macatawa has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 1808.2 acres.
What fish are in Lake Macatawa?
- Fish species found in Lake Macatawa include Round whitefish, Shorthead redhorse, Silver redhorse. Lake Macatawa is located in Ottawa County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Macatawa?
- Lake Macatawa has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Macatawa across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2018. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS1 sample · 2018
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory