Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township
Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township in Dickinson County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 241 acres.
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Max depth
- 20 ft
- Area
- 241 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township is a 241-acre mesotrophic lake in Dickinson County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 20 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2017. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including Bluegill, Golden shiner, and Iowa darter. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Dickinson County, Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2017-09-03. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus level: 11.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 241 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township
- → Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -2.34 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Sawyer Lake Dam, built primarily for recreation on the Tributary to Weber Creek; earth-type dam, 7 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 241 ac
- Normal storage
- 0 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 385 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Dickinson County Road Commission
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI01252 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.5 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 9 lakes in Dickinson County
Nearby Lakes in Dickinson County
Frequently asked questions about Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township
Where is Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township?
- Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township is a lake in Dickinson County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township?
- Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township in Dickinson County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 241 acres.
Is Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township?
- Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township has a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 241 acres.
What fish are in Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township?
- Fish species found in Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township include Bluegill, Golden shiner, Iowa darter, Largemouth bass, Pumpkinseed, Smallmouth bass, White sucker, Yellow perch. Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township is located in Dickinson County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township?
- Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Public access is listed as yes.
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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
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Iron County · 11.5 ft
Iron County · 13.5 ft
Iron County · 9 ft
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Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
40 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2017. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS40 samples · 2016–2017
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory