What is the water quality grade for Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township?

Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township in Benzie County, Michigan received a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.4 µg/L.

Is Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township safe to swim in?

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township has an overall water quality grade of A. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

What fish are in Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township?

Fish species found in Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township include Black crappie, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Brown bullhead, Common shiner, Creek chub, Emerald shiner, Iowa darter, Johnny darter, Mimic shiner, Northern logperch, Northern longear sunfish, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Sand shiner, Smallmouth bass, Spottail shiner, Trout-perch, Walleye, Western banded killifish, White bass, White sucker, Yellow bullhead, Yellow perch. Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township is located in Benzie County, Michigan.

Benzie County, Michigan

Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township

Grade AExcellent · 16 ft clarity

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Oligotrophic

Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Benzie County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 25 documented fish species including Black crappie, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow. Public access is available. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Benzie County, Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township ranks #8 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

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Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent

Crystal clear, you can see 16 ft down. Chlorophyll-a: 2.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.

Metric	Value	Grade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)	16 ft	A
Phosphorus	No data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)	2.4 µg/L	A
Trophic State Index (TSI)	38	Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Where to stay near Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township in Benzie 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.

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Fish Species

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

Fishing Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township

Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving

Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

Metric	Trend	Change/Year	Years
Water Clarity	↑ Improving	+10.22 m/yr	2
Chlorophyll-a	↑ Improving	-0.3 µg/L/yr	2

Water Temperature

Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township averages about 59°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Sep (about 64°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.