Sassafras Lake
Van Buren County, Michigan14 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↑ up from F at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #6 of 6 in the county
- Public access
Sassafras Lake in Van Buren County, Michigan has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 105 µg/L. Surface area: 14.1 acres.
- Typical in September
- 65°F
- Area
- 14 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 105 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Sassafras Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sassafras Lake in Van Buren 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Sassafras Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Sassafras Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Watch Sassafras Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Sassafras Lake is a 14-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Van Buren County, Michigan. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Van Buren County, Sassafras Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2025-10-20. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Sassafras Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 105 µg/L. TSI 71. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 105 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Temperature
Sassafras Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 69°F) and coldest in Mar (about 47°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 501 field readings (2013–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sassafras Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 14 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Sassafras Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Sassafras Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 9 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +9.9 µg/L/yr | 9 |
EPA Impairment Status
Sassafras Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040500012503-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.84 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Sassafras Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Hartford WwtpHartford · 1.2 mi away · NPDES MI0023094Recent violation
- Crystal Flash Limited PartnersGrand Rapids · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MIG080606
- Rays Mini MartMuskegon · 4.2 mi away · NPDES MIG080976
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 6 lakes in Van Buren County
Nearby Lakes in Van Buren County
Frequently asked questions about Sassafras Lake
Where is Sassafras Lake?
- Sassafras Lake is a lake in Van Buren County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Sassafras Lake?
- Sassafras Lake in Van Buren County, Michigan has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 105 µg/L. Surface area: 14.1 acres.
Is Sassafras Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Sassafras Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Sassafras Lake?
- Sassafras Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, from 501 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2013–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Sassafras Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Van Buren County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Michigan
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
352 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana (Tribal)
PBDNR352 samples · 2016–2025
Analytical methods
- 4500 P B ~ Phosphorus, sample preparation method
- 4500 P ~ Phosphorus in water and wastewater
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
- Direct Measurement Method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)