Silver Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Genesee County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, and Green sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Genesee County, Silver Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Silver Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Silver Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Silver Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | 0 m/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 9 lakes in Genesee County
Nearby Lakes in Genesee County
Explore Silver Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Livingston County · Clarity: 12 ft
Livingston County · Clarity: 12 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 10.5 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 11 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 10.8 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 13 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Silver Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040802030108-06 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.68 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Silver Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Fenton Twp MS4-GeneseeFenton · 4.1 mi away · NPDES MI0060095Recent violation
- Lake Fenton Ps MS4-GeneseeFenton · 4.2 mi away · NPDES MI0060360Recent 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)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-09-22
Monitoring stations: 1