Spider Lake West Basin is a mesotrophic lake in Grand Traverse 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 1 documented fish species including Largemouth bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 19 other monitored lakes in Grand Traverse County, Spider Lake West Basin ranks #16 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-11. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 12 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Spider Lake West Basin
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Spider Lake West Basin
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | 0 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.95 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Spider Lake West Basin averages about 67°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 71°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 152 field readings (2019–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Spider Lake West Basin water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #16 of 20 lakes in Grand Traverse County
Nearby Lakes in Grand Traverse County
Explore Spider Lake West Basin across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Grand Traverse County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Spider Lake West Basin 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 MI040601050506-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.06 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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2023-09-11
Monitoring stations: 1