Sassafras Lake
Van Buren County, Michigan14 acresView mapDirections
EGLE publishes the water-quality measurements for Sassafras Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
Sassafras Lake in Van Buren County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 105 µg/L. Surface area: 14.1 acres.
Sassafras Lake is a 14-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Van Buren County, Michigan. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyElevated nutrients
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Sassafras Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Sassafras Lake
These are the measurements EGLE publishes for Sassafras Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 105 µg/L. TSI 71.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 105µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 71 | Hypereutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Ask about Sassafras Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Sassafras Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in October. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (47°F) to its warmest (69°F).
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
Surface area
14 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by EGLE
No bathymetric survey has been published for Sassafras Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Sassafras Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Sassafras Lake
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Fishing Sassafras Lake
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 9 years of monitoring (2016–2025).
Phosphorus
Worsening+9.9 µg/L/yr9 years
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.
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. Its water-quality measurements are published by EGLE and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Sassafras Lake?
- Sassafras Lake in Van Buren County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 105 µg/L. Surface area: 14.1 acres.
Is Sassafras Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Sassafras Lake?
- Sassafras Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in October, from 501 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2013–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Can I fish at Sassafras Lake?
- Public access to Sassafras Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Michigan's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Sassafras Lake across LakeQuality
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)