Stager Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Iron County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including Bluegill, Brook trout, and Common shiner. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 38 other monitored lakes in Iron County, Stager Lake ranks #29 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 12.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.5 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 Stager Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Stager Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +5.56 m/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Stager Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 55 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #29 of 39 lakes in Iron County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Stager Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Iron County
Explore Stager Lake across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Iron County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Marquette County · Clarity: 12 ft
Dickinson County · Clarity: 13.8 ft
Dickinson County · Clarity: 13.8 ft
Dickinson County · Clarity: 12.5 ft
Dickinson County · Clarity: 12.5 ft
Dickinson County · Clarity: 11.5 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Stager 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 MI040301060409-04 · Official waterbody report
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: 2022-09-14
Monitoring stations: 1