Manistee Lake South is a mesotrophic lake in Manistee County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including Chestnut lamprey, Flathead catfish, and Golden shiner. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Manistee County, Manistee Lake South ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2026-04-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 18.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 18.8 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Manistee Lake South
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Manistee Lake South
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -8.42 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Manistee Lake South averages about 69°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 71°F) and coldest in Feb (about 34°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,268 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Manistee Lake South water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 12 lakes in Manistee County
Nearby Lakes in Manistee County
Explore Manistee Lake South across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Manistee County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Mason County · Clarity: 14 ft
Mason County · Clarity: 26 ft
Mason County · Clarity: 25 ft
Mason County · Clarity: 13.5 ft
Benzie County · Clarity: 16 ft
Lake County · Clarity: 18.3 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Manistee Lake South is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601030705-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.91 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Manistee Lake South under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 3 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Manistee WwtpManistee · 0.8 mi away · NPDES MI0020362MajorRecent violation
- Martin Marietta Magnesia Specialties Co., LlcManistee · 0.8 mi away · NPDES MI0004154MajorRecent violation
- Pca-Filer City MillFiler City · 1.3 mi away · NPDES MI0001171MajorRecent violation
- General Chem Corp-ManisteeManistee · 0.3 mi away · NPDES MI0054992
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: 2026-04-22
Monitoring stations: 1