Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township is a mesotrophic lake in Livingston County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including Blackside darter, Brook silverside, and Greenside darter. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 19 other monitored lakes in Livingston County, Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 3.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.3 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.225 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township averages about 53°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Sep (about 56°F) and coldest in May (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 288 field readings (2017–2019) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 81 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 20 lakes in Livingston County
Nearby Lakes in Livingston County
Explore Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Livingston 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
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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Washtenaw County · Clarity: 11.5 ft
Washtenaw County · Clarity: 12 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 15 ft
Jackson County · Clarity: 10 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 25 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 23 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040900050112-05 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.3 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Brighton WwtpBrighton · 2.1 mi away · NPDES MI0020877MajorRecent violation
- Mdeq-Holly Road Site GwcuBrighton · 3.3 mi away · NPDES MI0058344Recent violation
- Brighton Twp WwtpBrighton · 3.5 mi away · NPDES MI0054968Recent violation
- Metaldyne-HamburgHamburg · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MI0043737
- Green Oak Police StationBrighton · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MIG080404
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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: 2023-09-15
Monitoring stations: 1