Sylvan Lake; Sylvan Lake Township is a mesotrophic lake in Oakland County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. 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; Sylvan Lake Township ranks #34 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2021-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Sylvan Lake; Sylvan Lake Township water quality
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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
Where to stay near Sylvan Lake; Sylvan Lake Township
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sylvan Lake; Sylvan Lake Township
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.36 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.75 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Sylvan Lake; Sylvan Lake Township averages about 59°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 60°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 189 field readings (2019–2019) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sylvan Lake; Sylvan Lake Township water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #34 of 45 lakes in Oakland County
Nearby Lakes in Oakland County
Explore Sylvan Lake; Sylvan Lake Township across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Oakland County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Michigan
Lapeer County · Clarity: 9 ft
Livingston County · Clarity: 9 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 1.8 ft
Livingston County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 9 ft
Livingston County · Clarity: 8 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Sylvan Lake; Sylvan Lake Township is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040900030108-43 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.94 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Sylvan Lake; Sylvan Lake Township under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Sylvan Lake MS4-OaklandSylvan Lake · 0.8 mi away · NPDES MI0060161Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2021-09-18
Monitoring stations: 1