Square Lake
Oakland County, Michigan81 acresView mapDirections
Not Rated: one monitoring station are on record, but they measured water clarity only. LakeQuality’s A–F method grades total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity; clarity is shown, not scored.
- Impaired · Pathogens (E. coli, fecal)
- 67 ft max depth
- Limited data
Square Lake in Oakland County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 23 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 67 ft. Surface area: 80.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 23 ft
- Max depth
- 67 ft
- Area
- 81 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Stays near Square Lake
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Watch Square Lake’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Square Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 67 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Square Lake has no grade
Square Lake has monitoring on record from one station, but only water clarity was measured. LakeQuality’s A–F letter uses total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity against EPA National Lakes Assessment condition classes. With none of those grading measurements on record, Square Lake is Not Rated — not an F. Its 23-foot median from 40 readings collected 2021–2022 is still shown as clarity, but clarity alone cannot earn a letter.
Not Rated is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Square Lake is a 81-acre lake in Oakland County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 67 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Lake herring.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Square Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water23 ft of visibility
- Deep water67 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Not ratedBacteria advisory
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Square Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Square Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 23 ft down. TSI 32.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 23 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 32 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 67 ft |
| Surface Area | 81 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Square Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.837 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.5 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.05 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Square 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 MI040900040401-12 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.7 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
11 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Square Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 5 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Oakland Co-Pontiac WwtpPontiac · 3.5 mi away · NPDES MI0023825MajorRecent violation
- Racer-Pontiac Sw Det FacPontiac · 2.2 mi away · NPDES MI0056031Recent violation
- Pontiac MS4-OaklandPontiac · 2.2 mi away · NPDES MI0060086Recent violation
- Gm-Pontiac Centerpoint CampusPontiac · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MIG250478Recent violation
- Bloomfield Hills MS4-OaklandBloomfield Hills · 3.9 mi away · NPDES MI0059975Recent violation
- Gmc Truck & Bus GroupPontiac · 1.4 mi away · NPDES MIP000125
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.
Graded lakes near Square Lake
Square Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Oakland County
Frequently asked questions about Square Lake
Where is Square Lake?
- Square Lake is a lake in Oakland County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Square Lake?
- Square Lake in Oakland County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 23 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 67 ft. Surface area: 80.8 acres.
Is Square Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Square Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Square Lake?
- Square Lake has a maximum depth of 67 feet. The lake covers 80.8 acres.
What fish are in Square Lake?
- Fish species found in Square Lake include Lake herring. Square Lake is located in Oakland County, Michigan.
Explore Square Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
40 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS40 samples · 2021–2022
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)