North Lake
Washtenaw County, Michigan224 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #3 of 8 in the county
- 58 ft max depth
- Public access
North Lake in Washtenaw County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 224.2 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.5 ft
- Typical in September
- 60°F
- Max depth
- 58 ft
- Area
- 224 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 13 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 3.7 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch North Lake’s letter
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North Lake is a 224-acre mesotrophic lake in Washtenaw County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 58 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Redear sunfish and Warmouth. Public access is available. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Washtenaw County, North Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-25. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What North Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12.5 ft of visibility
- Deep water58 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.5 ft. Phosphorus 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.7 µg/L. TSI 42. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
North Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 59°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 61°F) and coldest in Apr (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,179 field readings (2014–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full North Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 58 ft |
| Surface Area | 224 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing North Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.257 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.13 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.05 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of North Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Mdnr-Bruin Lake Cg WwslPinckney · 2.8 mi away · NPDES MI0044946Recent violation
- Mdnr-Bruin Lake Cg WwslGregory · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MIG960035
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 #3 of 8 lakes in Washtenaw County
Nearby Lakes in Washtenaw County
Frequently asked questions about North Lake
Where is North Lake?
- North Lake is a lake in Washtenaw County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for North Lake?
- North Lake in Washtenaw County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 224.2 acres.
Is North Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of North Lake?
- North Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in September, from 1,179 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2014–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is North Lake?
- North Lake has a maximum depth of 58 feet. The lake covers 224.2 acres.
What fish are in North Lake?
- Fish species found in North Lake include Redear sunfish, Warmouth. North Lake is located in Washtenaw County, Michigan.
Explore North Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
149 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS149 samples · 2016–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)