Lake Sapphire is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Missaukee County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 6 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2024-08-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 26.2 ft down. Trophic State Index: 30.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 26.2 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 30 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Lake Sapphire
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Fishing Lake Sapphire
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Missaukee County
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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
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Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 13 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 15 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
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)
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 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.
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: 2024-08-14
Monitoring stations: 1