Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods in Manistee County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.3 ft visibility. Surface area: 63.2 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.3 ft
- Mean depth
- ~10 ft est.
- Area
- 63 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Why Lake of the Woods 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 of the Woods, 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. 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 of the Woods is a 63-acre lake in Manistee County, Michigan with an estimated average depth of about 10 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2018-08-08. 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 of the Woods
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.3 ft. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Lake of the Woods
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake of the Woods in Manistee 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 of the Woods
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~10 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 63 acres |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Michigan has not published bathymetry for Lake of the Woods.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Lake of the Woods
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.13 m/yr | 2 |
Graded lakes near Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Manistee County
Frequently asked questions about Lake of the Woods
Where is Lake of the Woods?
- Lake of the Woods is a lake in Manistee 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 of the Woods?
- Lake of the Woods in Manistee County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.3 ft visibility. Surface area: 63.2 acres.
Is Lake of the Woods safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lake of the Woods 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 of the Woods?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Lake of the Woods, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 10 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 63.2 acres.
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Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2017–2018. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS16 samples · 2017–2018
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)