Sanford Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Benzie County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including Black crappie, Blackside darter, and Bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Benzie County, Sanford Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 15.8 ft down. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.8 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Sanford Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sanford Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.575 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.4 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Sanford Lake averages about 62°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 64°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 87 field readings (2020–2020) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sanford Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 35 lakes in Benzie County
Nearby Lakes in Benzie County
Explore Sanford Lake across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Benzie County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 15 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 15 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 23.8 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 24 ft
Leelanau County · Clarity: 15.8 ft
Leelanau County · Clarity: 15.5 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Sanford Lake 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 MI040601040202-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.6 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-10
Monitoring stations: 1