Mecosta Lake
Mecosta County, Michigan312 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
↑ up from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #3 of 6 in the county
- 39 ft max depth
Mecosta Lake in Mecosta County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 311.7 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.5 ft
- Max depth
- 39 ft
- Area
- 312 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 10 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 3.3 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
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Watch Mecosta Lake’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Mecosta Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 39 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Mecosta Lake is a 312-acre mesotrophic lake in Mecosta County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 39 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Mecosta County, Mecosta Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Mecosta Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Deep water39 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.5 ft. Phosphorus 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.3 µg/L. TSI 41. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 39 ft |
| Surface Area | 312 acres |
Fishing Mecosta Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.391 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.01 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.23 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 6 lakes in Mecosta County
Nearby Lakes in Mecosta County
Frequently asked questions about Mecosta Lake
Where is Mecosta Lake?
- Mecosta Lake is a lake in Mecosta County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Mecosta Lake?
- Mecosta Lake in Mecosta County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 311.7 acres.
Is Mecosta Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Mecosta Lake?
- Mecosta Lake has a maximum depth of 39 feet. The lake covers 311.7 acres.
Explore Mecosta Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
134 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS134 samples · 2016–2023
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.