North Lake
Washtenaw County, Michigan224 acresView mapDirections
EGLE publishes the water-quality measurements for North Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 58 ft max depth
- Public access
North Lake in Washtenaw County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. 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.
North Lake is a 224-acre mesotrophic lake in Washtenaw County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 58 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
North Lake covers about 220 acres in Washtenaw County. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around North Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
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 conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether North Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for North Lake
These are the measurements EGLE publishes for North Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 12.5 ft. Phosphorus 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.7 µg/L. TSI 42.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 12.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 13µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 3.7µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 42 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about North Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
North Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (51°F) to its warmest (61°F).
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
Max depth
58 ft
Surface area
224 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by EGLE
Stays via Stay22
Stays near North Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Lake in Washtenaw 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 North Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing North Lake
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2016–2023).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Stable+0.13 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Stable+0.05 µg/L/yr7 years
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.
Nearby Lakes in Washtenaw County
Frequently asked questions about North Lake
Where is North Lake?
- North Lake is a lake in Washtenaw County, Michigan. Its water-quality measurements are published by EGLE and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of North Lake?
- North Lake in Washtenaw County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of North Lake?
- North Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October, 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.
Can I fish at North Lake?
- Public access to North Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Michigan's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore North Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)