Muskegon Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Muskegon County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including Common carp, Golden redhorse, and Golden shiner. Public access is available with 8 public boat landings. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Muskegon County, Muskegon Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2021-06-29. 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 10.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.8 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 Muskegon Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Muskegon Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Muskegon Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 66 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 12 lakes in Muskegon County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Muskegon Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Muskegon County
Explore Muskegon Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Muskegon 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
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Newaygo County · Clarity: 10 ft
Newaygo County · Clarity: 10 ft
Newaygo County · Clarity: 10.5 ft
Newaygo County · Clarity: 13.5 ft
Oceana County · Clarity: 7 ft
Newaygo County · Clarity: 12.8 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Muskegon Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601021003-02 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
46 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Muskegon Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Ceco-B C Cobb Power PltMuskegon · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MI0001520Major
- Former B C Cobb Ash PondsMuskegon · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MI0060248Recent violation
- Mahle Inc-Muskegon Hts ComplexMuskegon Heights · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MI0004057Recent violation
- Muskegon Heights MS4-MuskegonMuskegon Heights · 3.3 mi away · NPDES MI0060065Recent violation
- Mdeq-Rd-Ott/Story SfNorth Muskegon · 4.9 mi away · NPDES MI0053309Recent violation
- Mich Steel IncMuskegon · 0.9 mi away · NPDES MI0025038
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: 2021-06-29
Monitoring stations: 1