North Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Washtenaw County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Warmouth. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 16 other monitored lakes in Washtenaw County, North Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch North Lake water quality
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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 12 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near North Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing North Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.58 m/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.15 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of North Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 58 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 17 lakes in Washtenaw County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
North Lake holds Grade B. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Washtenaw County
Explore North Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Washtenaw 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
Livingston County · Clarity: 13 ft
Livingston County · Clarity: 10.5 ft
Livingston County · Clarity: 10.5 ft
Livingston County · Clarity: 10.5 ft
Jackson County · Clarity: 10 ft
Livingston County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of North Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Multi Lakes Sewer AuthorityDexter · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MIG960030
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
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: 2022-09-24
Monitoring stations: 1