Lake Mitchell
Wexford County, Michigan2,644 acresView mapDirections
Not Rated: one monitoring station are on record, but they measured water clarity only. LakeQuality’s A–F method grades total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity; clarity is shown, not scored.
- Impaired · Mercury
- 22 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake Mitchell in Wexford County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 2643.7 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.5 ft
- Max depth
- 22 ft
- Area
- 2,644 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Lake Mitchell’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Lake Mitchell, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 22 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Lake Mitchell has no grade
Lake Mitchell has monitoring on record from one station, but only water clarity was measured. LakeQuality’s A–F letter uses total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity against EPA National Lakes Assessment condition classes. With none of those grading measurements on record, Lake Mitchell is Not Rated — not an F. Its 8.5-foot median from 10 readings collected 2022 is still shown as clarity, but clarity alone cannot earn a letter.
Not Rated is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. 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 Mitchell is a 2,644-acre lake in Wexford County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 22 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-11. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Mitchell is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Camping1 public campground nearby
- Big water2,644 acres
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Lake Mitchell is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Lake Mitchell
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.5 ft. TSI 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 22 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,644 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Hemlock CampgroundPublic
- William Mitchell State ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Lake Mitchell
- Hemlock Recreation Area2.4 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Lake Mitchell
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.094 m/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Mitchell is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601020302-05 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Lake Mitchell
Lake Mitchell has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Wexford County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Mitchell
Where is Lake Mitchell?
- Lake Mitchell is a lake in Wexford County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Mitchell?
- Lake Mitchell in Wexford County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 2643.7 acres.
Is Lake Mitchell safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Lake Mitchell is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lake Mitchell?
- Lake Mitchell has a maximum depth of 22 feet. The lake covers 2643.7 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Mitchell?
- Lake Mitchell has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hemlock Campground, William Mitchell State Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Lake Mitchell?
- Lake Mitchell has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Hemlock Recreation Area. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Lake Mitchell across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS10 samples · 2022
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles