Otter Lake North Basin; Waterford Township is a mesotrophic lake in Oakland County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Oakland County, Otter Lake North Basin; Waterford Township ranks #21 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2021-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Otter Lake North Basin; Waterford Township 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 10 ft. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Otter Lake North Basin; Waterford Township
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Fishing Otter Lake North Basin; Waterford Township
Water Temperature
Otter Lake North Basin; Waterford Township averages about 57°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 59°F) and coldest in May (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 170 field readings (2019–2019) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Otter Lake North Basin; Waterford Township water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #21 of 45 lakes in Oakland County
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Genesee County · Clarity: 12 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 12 ft
Livingston County · Clarity: 12 ft
Livingston County · Clarity: 12 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 10 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 10 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Otter Lake North Basin; Waterford 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 MI040900050104-06 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.65 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Otter Lake North Basin; Waterford Township under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Oakland Cdc MS4Waterford · 2 mi away · NPDES MI0060089Recent violation
- Waterford Ps MS4-OaklandWaterford · 2.5 mi away · NPDES MI0060224Recent violation
- Grand Trunk Wrr-PontiacPontiac · 2.5 mi away · NPDES MIG080784
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
Most recent sample: 2021-09-18
Monitoring stations: 1