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
- Edey LakePublic
- Silver LakePublic
- County ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
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. Named access points include Edey Lake, Silver Lake, County Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Sawyer Lake Central Basin; Sagola Township across LakeQuality
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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