Manistee North Lake
Manistee County, MichiganView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Pathogens (E. coli, fecal)
- #10 of 13 in the county
- Public access
Manistee North Lake in Manistee County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 16.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 0.9 µg/L.
- Typical in September
- 66°F
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 16.1 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 0.9 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Manistee North Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Manistee North Lake in Manistee 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 Manistee North 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 Manistee North Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Manistee North Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Manistee County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Manistee County, Manistee North Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2026-06-08. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria advisory
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. Manistee North Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 16.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 0.9 µg/L. TSI 37. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 16.1 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 0.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Water Temperature
Manistee North Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°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 755 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Manistee North Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Manistee North Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 9 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.45 µg/L/yr | 9 |
EPA Impairment Status
Manistee North Lake 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 MI040601011002-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.8 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Manistee North Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Morton SaltManistee · 0.8 mi away · NPDES MI0001503MajorRecent violation
- Morton International IncManistee · 0.8 mi away · NPDES MI0002470
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 13 lakes in Manistee County
Nearby Lakes in Manistee County
Frequently asked questions about Manistee North Lake
Where is Manistee North Lake?
- Manistee North Lake is a lake in Manistee County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Manistee North Lake?
- Manistee North Lake in Manistee County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 16.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 0.9 µg/L.
Is Manistee North Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Manistee North Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Manistee North Lake?
- Manistee North Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September, from 755 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Manistee North Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Manistee County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
542 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
LRBOI_WQX542 samples · 2016–2026
Analytical methods
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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)