Sunset Lake West Central Basin; Bates Township
Iron County, WisconsinOligotrophic
Sunset Lake West Central Basin; Bates Township is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Iron County, MI. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Compared to the 38 other monitored lakes in Iron County, Sunset Lake West Central Basin; Bates Township ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2023-09-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 15.5 ft down. Chlorophyll-a: 2.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.5 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.2 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 39 lakes in Iron County
Nearby Lakes in Iron County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Wisconsin
Mecosta County · Clarity: 12.8 ft
Benzie County · Clarity: 13.5 ft
Clare County · Clarity: 15 ft
Kalkaska County · Clarity: 16 ft
Gogebic County · Clarity: 18 ft
Leelanau County · Clarity: 15.5 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
EPA Impairment Status
Sunset Lake West Central Basin; Bates Township is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040301060307-06 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.74 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-08
Monitoring stations: 1