Stony Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Oceana County, Michigan. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Oceana County, Stony Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Stony Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Stony Lake in Oceana 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.
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Fishing Stony Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.755 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.8 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Stony Lake averages about 64°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 66°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 410 field readings (2012–2018) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Stony Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Stony Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 43 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 5 lakes in Oceana County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Stony Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Oceana County
Explore Stony Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Oceana County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Michigan
Muskegon County · Clarity: 1 ft
Newaygo County · Clarity: 4.5 ft
Ottawa County · Clarity: 3.5 ft
Kent County · Clarity: 6.3 ft
Kent County · Clarity: 6.3 ft
Benzie County · Clarity: 6.5 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Stony Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601011006-01 · 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
Most recent sample: 2022-09-15
Monitoring stations: 1