Silver Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Washtenaw County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, and Green sunfish. Compared to the 16 other monitored lakes in Washtenaw County, Silver Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Silver Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 2.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.5 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Silver Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Silver Lake in Washtenaw 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.
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Silver Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.648 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.1 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Silver Lake averages about 64°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 66°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 416 field readings (2021–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Silver Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Silver Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 47 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 17 lakes in Washtenaw County
Nearby Lakes in Washtenaw County
Explore Silver Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Washtenaw County
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 A Lakes in Michigan
Livingston County · Excellent
Livingston County · Clarity: 10 ft
Jackson County · Clarity: 10 ft
Lenawee County · Clarity: 13.5 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 15 ft
Lenawee County · Clarity: 10.8 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 MI040900050307-23 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.4 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-22
Monitoring stations: 1