Nelson Lake
Kent County, Michigan8 acresView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- Limited data
Nelson Lake in Kent County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19 µg/L. Surface area: 7.9 acres.
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Area
- 8 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Watch Nelson Lake’s letter
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Why Nelson Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Nelson Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity and phosphorus, but not algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Nelson Lake is a 8-acre lake in Kent County, Michigan. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Nelson Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus 19 µg/L. TSI 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Nelson Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Nelson Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.78 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -31 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Graded lakes near Nelson Lake
Nelson Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Kent County
Frequently asked questions about Nelson Lake
Where is Nelson Lake?
- Nelson Lake is a lake in Kent County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
What is the water quality grade for Nelson Lake?
- Nelson Lake in Kent County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19 µg/L. Surface area: 7.9 acres.
Is Nelson Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
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Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS3 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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.