C

Sylvan Lake

Oakland County, WisconsinLimited DataMesotrophic

Sylvan Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Oakland County, MI. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Oakland County, Sylvan Lake ranks #36 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2021-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Swimming Safety

Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality

Water Quality Grade: C, Fair

Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 45.

Metric	Value	Grade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)	9.5 ft	C
Phosphorus	No data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)	No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)	45	Mesotrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Fish Species

Blacknose shiner Bluegill Bluntnose minnow Green sunfish Iowa darter Largemouth bass Northern pike Rock bass Sand shiner Smallmouth bass Walleye Western banded killifish White sucker Yellow perch

Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.

→ Best fishing times for Sylvan Lake (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Sylvan Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)

→ Sylvan Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #36 of 45 lakes in Oakland County

Nearby Lakes in Oakland County

Square Lake Central Basin; Bloomfield Township

Maceday Lake Central Basin; Waterford Township Section 7

Cass Lake South Central Basin; W. Bloomfield Township Section 3

Lake Orion East Central Basin; Orion Township Section 11

More Wisconsin Lake Rankings

Cleanest lakes in Wisconsin

Top 25 by overall water quality score

Best swimming lakes in Wisconsin

Grade A/B + low algae filter

Family fishing lakes in Wisconsin

Panfish-rich, public access

All Wisconsin lakes

Full state directory

Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin

Shavehead Lake East Basin; Porter Township

Cass County · Clarity: 7 ft

Leelanau County · Clarity: 9.5 ft

Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township

Iosco County · Clarity: 5.5 ft

Muskegon County · Clarity: 6.8 ft

Little Lake Twenty

Gladwin County · Clarity: 9 ft

Montmorency County · Clarity: 9 ft

Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin

Middle Lake; Elba Township; Section 13 Portage Lake Shavehead Lake East Basin; Porter Township Chippewa Lake Northeast Basin; Chippewa Township

EPA Impairment Status

Sylvan Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Pathogens (E. coli, fecal)

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040900050104-06 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.66 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: 2021-09-18

Monitoring stations: 1