Starvation Lake
Starvation Lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 21.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 47 ft. Surface area: 98.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 21.5 ft
- Max depth
- 47 ft
- Area
- 99 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
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Why Starvation Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Starvation Lake, 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. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. 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.
Starvation Lake is a 99-acre lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 47 feet. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Smallmouth bass, White sucker, and Yellow perch.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2019-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Starvation Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 21.5 ft down. Trophic State Index: 33.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 21.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 33 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Starvation Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Starvation Lake in Kalkaska 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Starvation Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 47 ft |
| Surface Area | 99 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Starvation Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.808 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.02 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.09 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Graded lakes near Starvation Lake
Starvation Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Kalkaska County
Frequently asked questions about Starvation Lake
Where is Starvation Lake?
- Starvation Lake is a lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Starvation Lake?
- Starvation Lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 21.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 47 ft. Surface area: 98.8 acres.
Is Starvation Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Starvation Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Starvation Lake?
- Starvation Lake has a maximum depth of 47 feet. The lake covers 98.8 acres.
What fish are in Starvation Lake?
- Fish species found in Starvation Lake include Smallmouth bass, White sucker, Yellow perch. Starvation Lake is located in Kalkaska County, Michigan.
Explore Starvation Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
46 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2019. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS46 samples · 2016–2019
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)