Manistee North Lake 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. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 5 public boat landings. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Manistee County, Manistee North Lake ranks #1 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: 17.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 17.2 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Manistee North Lake
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Fishing Manistee North Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.93 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Manistee North Lake averages about 71°F at the surface in summer, 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 →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 12 lakes in Manistee County
Nearby Lakes in Manistee County
Explore Manistee North Lake 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
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Mason County · Clarity: 14 ft
Mason County · Clarity: 13.5 ft
Mason County · Clarity: 26 ft
Mason County · Clarity: 25 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 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.
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)
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