Lake Orion is a 470-acre mesotrophic lake in Oakland County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Oakland County, Lake Orion ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 470 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake Orion
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Fishing Lake Orion
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.185 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.4 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 45 lakes in Oakland County
Nearby Lakes in Oakland County
Explore Lake Orion across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Oakland County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Lapeer County · Clarity: 14 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 12 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 12 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 10 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 10 ft
Livingston County · Clarity: 12 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Orion is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Orion Dam (completed 1829), built primarily for other on the Paint Creek; gravity-type dam, 18 ft tall and 760 ft long.
- Surface area
- 470 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,800 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,600 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 37 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Village of Lake Orion
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00259 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Orion 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
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Orion under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Lake Orion Ps MS4-OaklandLake Orion · 2 mi away · NPDES MI0059903Recent violation
- Orion Twp MS4-OaklandLake Orion · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MI0060156Recent violation
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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: 2022-09-14
Monitoring stations: 1