Moore Lake
Allegan County, Michigan6 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #4 of 5 in the county
- Limited data
Moore Lake in Allegan County, Michigan has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38 µg/L. Surface area: 5.9 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.2 ft
- Typical in September
- 66°F
- Area
- 6 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 38 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Moore Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Moore Lake in Allegan 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 Moore 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 Moore Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Moore Lake is a 6-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Allegan County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Allegan County, Moore Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2025-11-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Moore Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 5 samples across 5 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Michigan’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 6.2 ft. Phosphorus 38 µg/L. TSI 54. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 38 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Moore Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 69°F) and coldest in Mar (about 45°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 17,684 field readings (2019–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Moore Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Moore Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Moore Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.25 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +24.79 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Moore 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 MI040500030803-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.56 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Moore Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Match-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band Of Pottawatomi Indians Tribal Utility Authority WwtfWayland · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MI0058661Recent violation
- Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish-Treatment Plant #1Shelbyville · 2.4 mi away · NPDES MI0058670Recent violation
- Wayland Twp WwtpShelbyville · 2.4 mi away · NPDES MI0059005Recent violation
- Crystal Flash-Wayland #20Wayland · 4.4 mi away · NPDES MIG081034
- Wayland Recycling Site-RrdWayland · 4.6 mi away · NPDES MI0060251
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 #4 of 5 lakes in Allegan County
Nearby Lakes in Allegan County
Frequently asked questions about Moore Lake
Where is Moore Lake?
- Moore Lake is a lake in Allegan County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Moore Lake?
- Moore Lake in Allegan County, Michigan has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38 µg/L. Surface area: 5.9 acres.
Is Moore Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Moore Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 5 samples across 5 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Moore Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Michigan's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Moore Lake?
- Moore Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September, from 17,684 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Moore Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Allegan County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Michigan
Eutrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
59 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan (Gun Lake)
GNLK01_WQX59 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
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)