South Pond
Chippewa County, Michigan14 acresView mapDirections
EGLE publishes the water-quality measurements for South Pond. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
South Pond in Chippewa County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 1.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25.4 µg/L. Surface area: 13.9 acres.
South Pond is a 14-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Chippewa County, Michigan. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Golden redhorse, Golden shiner, and Green sunfish. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Chippewa County, South Pond ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-05-09. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What South Pond is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing6 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyAlgae risk
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether South Pond is safe to swim in today is a call for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for South Pond
These are the measurements EGLE publishes for South Pond, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 1.4 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 25.4 µg/L. TSI 64.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 1.4ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 38µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 25.4µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 64 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about South Pond
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
South Pond typically sits around 53°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 70°F) and coldest in Feb (about 35°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (35°F) to its warmest (70°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 170 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full South Pond water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
Surface area
14 acres
No bathymetric survey has been published for South Pond, so its depth is not documented here.
Stays via Stay22
Stays near South Pond
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near South Pond in Chippewa 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around South Pond are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near South Pond
Prices for Oct 23–25, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing South Pond
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 9 years of monitoring (2016–2025).
Water clarity
Improving8 years
Phosphorus
Stable-0.3 µg/L/yr9 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+4.5 µg/L/yr7 years
Nearby Lakes in Chippewa County
Frequently asked questions about South Pond
Where is South Pond?
- South Pond is a lake in Chippewa County, Michigan. Its water-quality measurements are published by EGLE and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of South Pond?
- South Pond in Chippewa County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 1.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25.4 µg/L. Surface area: 13.9 acres.
Is South Pond safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of South Pond?
- South Pond typically sits around 53°F at the surface in October, from 170 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
What fish are in South Pond?
- Fish species found in South Pond include Golden redhorse, Golden shiner, Green sunfish, Lake herring, Pumpkinseed, Spotted gar. South Pond is located in Chippewa County, Michigan.
Explore South Pond across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
142 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Bay Mills Indian Community, Michigan (Tribal)
BMIC_WQX142 samples · 2016–2023
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.