Second Sister Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Washtenaw County, Michigan. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Bluegill, Green sunfish, and Yellow bullhead. Compared to the 16 other monitored lakes in Washtenaw County, Second Sister Lake ranks #16 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-03-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Second Sister Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Second Sister Lake
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #16 of 17 lakes in Washtenaw County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Second Sister Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Washtenaw County
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Second Sister 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 MI040900050308-02 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
15 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Second Sister Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 8 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Gelman Sciences Llc - Wagner RdAnn Arbor · 0.3 mi away · NPDES MI0048453Recent violation
- Washtenaw Cdc MS4Ann Arbor · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MI0059599Recent violation
- Honey Creek Development WwtpAnn Arbor · 3 mi away · NPDES MI0058169Recent violation
- Lake Forest GolfAnn Arbor · 3.4 mi away · NPDES MIG580015Recent violation
- Ntn Technical CenterAnn Arbor · 3.9 mi away · NPDES MIG250419Recent violation
- Thetford Llc-DexterDexter · 4.4 mi away · NPDES MI0036951Recent violation
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-03-20
Monitoring stations: 1