Lake Sapphire
Missaukee County, Michigan246 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 · Metals (other than mercury)
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake Sapphire in Missaukee County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 26.2 ft visibility. Surface area: 246.2 acres.
- Clarity
- 26.2 ft
- Area
- 246 acres
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Lake Sapphire’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Lake Sapphire, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 8 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Lake Sapphire has no grade
Lake Sapphire 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 Sapphire is Not Rated — not an F. Its 26.2-foot median from 1 readings collected 2024 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 Sapphire is a 246-acre lake in Missaukee County, Michigan. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2024-08-14. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Sapphire is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water26.2 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Lake Sapphire is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for metals (other than mercury), toxic organics. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Lake Sapphire
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 26.2 ft down. TSI 30.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 26.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 30 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 246 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
The available depth estimate for Lake Sapphire is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake SapphirePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Sapphire
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Sapphire 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 MI040601020305-04 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.58 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Sapphire under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Chemical Plant & Tar Pit SiteLake City · 2 mi away · NPDES MIG080910
- Wesco #35Lake City · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MIG080903
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.
Graded lakes near Lake Sapphire
Lake Sapphire has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Missaukee County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Sapphire
Where is Lake Sapphire?
- Lake Sapphire is a lake in Missaukee County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
What is the water quality grade for Lake Sapphire?
- Lake Sapphire in Missaukee County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 26.2 ft visibility. Surface area: 246.2 acres.
Is Lake Sapphire safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Lake Sapphire is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for metals (other than mercury), toxic organics. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lake Sapphire?
- The available depth estimate for Lake Sapphire is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown. The lake covers 246.2 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Sapphire?
- Lake Sapphire has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Sapphire. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS1 sample · 2024
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory