Nichols Lake
Newaygo County, MichiganView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- 35 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Nichols Lake in Newaygo County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 14.7 ft
- Max depth
- ~35 ft est.
- Phosphorus
- 7 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Nichols Lake’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Nichols Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 50 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Nichols 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 Nichols Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. 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.
Nichols Lake is a lake in Newaygo County, Michigan with an estimated average depth of about 35 feet. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, and Green sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Nichols Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14.7 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing7 species recorded
- Camping3 public campgrounds nearby
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Nichols Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 14.7 ft. Phosphorus 7 µg/L. TSI 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 7 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~35 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~14 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Michigan has not published bathymetry for Nichols Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- NIchols North Recreation AreaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Nichols Lake
- Walk Up Lake Recreation Area0.7 km
- Nichols Lake Recreation Area0.8 km
- Highbanks Campground4.9 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Nichols Lake
Graded lakes near Nichols Lake
Nichols Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Newaygo County
Frequently asked questions about Nichols Lake
Where is Nichols Lake?
- Nichols Lake is a lake in Newaygo County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Nichols Lake?
- Nichols Lake in Newaygo County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7 µg/L.
Is Nichols Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Nichols Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Nichols Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 35 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
What fish are in Nichols Lake?
- Fish species found in Nichols Lake include Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Green sunfish, Iowa darter, Largemouth bass, Western banded killifish, Yellow perch. Nichols Lake is located in Newaygo County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Nichols Lake?
- Nichols Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include NIchols North Recreation Area. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Nichols Lake?
- Nichols Lake has 3 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Walk Up Lake Recreation Area, Nichols Lake Recreation Area, Highbanks Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Nichols Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
13 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_MICORPS13 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.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles