Lower Woodcock Lake
Benzie County, Michigan22 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
↑ up from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #16 of 21 in the county
- Limited data
Lower Woodcock Lake in Benzie County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.4 µg/L. Surface area: 21.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.3 ft
- Typical in September
- 68°F
- Area
- 22 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 10 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 5.4 µg/L
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lower Woodcock Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower Woodcock Lake 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Lower Woodcock Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Watch Lower Woodcock Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Lower Woodcock Lake is a 22-acre mesotrophic lake in Benzie County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including Bluntnose minnow, Common shiner, and Creek chub. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Benzie County, Lower Woodcock Lake ranks #16 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lower Woodcock Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12.3 ft of visibility
- Fishing9 species recorded
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lower Woodcock Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.3 ft. Phosphorus 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.4 µg/L. TSI 42. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Lower Woodcock Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 69°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 66 field readings (2022–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lower Woodcock Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 22 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lower Woodcock Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lower Woodcock Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Lower Woodcock Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601040202-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.96 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #16 of 21 lakes in Benzie County
Nearby Lakes in Benzie County
Frequently asked questions about Lower Woodcock Lake
Where is Lower Woodcock Lake?
- Lower Woodcock Lake is a lake in Benzie County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lower Woodcock Lake?
- Lower Woodcock Lake in Benzie County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.4 µg/L. Surface area: 21.8 acres.
Is Lower Woodcock Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lower Woodcock Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lower Woodcock Lake?
- Lower Woodcock Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, from 66 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
What fish are in Lower Woodcock Lake?
- Fish species found in Lower Woodcock Lake include Bluntnose minnow, Common shiner, Creek chub, Hornyhead chub, Mimic shiner, Northern longear sunfish, Rock bass, Rosyface shiner, Sand shiner. Lower Woodcock Lake is located in Benzie County, Michigan.
Explore Lower Woodcock Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Benzie County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Grand Traverse Region area
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
Planning a trip around Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Lower Woodcock Lake is about 17 miles from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes →More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS16 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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