Middle Straits Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Oakland County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Yellow bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Oakland County, Middle Straits Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2021-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Middle Straits Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Middle Straits Lake
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #15 of 45 lakes in Oakland County
Nearby Lakes in Oakland County
Explore Middle Straits Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Oakland 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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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Livingston County · Clarity: 12 ft
Livingston County · Clarity: 12 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 12 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 12 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 10 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 10 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Middle Straits 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 MI040900050102-07 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Middle Straits Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Commerce Twp MS4-OaklandCommerce Township · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MI0059375Recent violation
- Wolverine Lake MS4-OaklandWolverine Lake · 3 mi away · NPDES MI0059702Recent violation
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: 2021-09-16
Monitoring stations: 1