Starvation Lake
Kalkaska County, Michigan99 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.
- 47 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
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
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Starvation Lake’s letter
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Why Starvation Lake has no grade
Starvation 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, Starvation Lake is Not Rated — not an F. Its 21.5-foot median from 46 readings collected 2016–2019 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.
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. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2019-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Starvation Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water21.5 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing3 species recorded
- Deep water47 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
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. TSI 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. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 47 ft |
| Surface Area | 99 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Starvation LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
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) — 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 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?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
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.
Are there boat ramps on Starvation Lake?
- Starvation Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Starvation Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory