Star Lake
Manistee County, Michigan10 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
↑ up from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #8 of 13 in the county
- Limited data
Star Lake in Manistee County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.4 µg/L. Surface area: 9.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Typical in September
- 77°F
- Area
- 10 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 9 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 4.4 µg/L
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Stays near Star Lake
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Watch Star Lake’s letter
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Star Lake is a 10-acre mesotrophic lake in Manistee County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Manistee County, Star Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-12. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Star Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Camping1 public campground nearby
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Phosphorus 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.4 µg/L. TSI 43. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Star Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 80°F) and coldest in May (about 67°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 27 field readings (2022–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Star Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Star Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Star Lake
- Pine Lake Recreation Area Campground3.0 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Star Lake
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 13 lakes in Manistee County
Nearby Lakes in Manistee County
Frequently asked questions about Star Lake
Where is Star Lake?
- Star Lake is a lake in Manistee County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Star Lake?
- Star Lake in Manistee County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.4 µg/L. Surface area: 9.8 acres.
Is Star Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Star Lake?
- Star Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in September, from 27 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there campgrounds on Star Lake?
- Star Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Pine Lake Recreation Area Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Star Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Manistee County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS16 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles