Thread Lake Central Basin is a 80-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Genesee County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Genesee County, Thread Lake Central Basin ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Thread Lake Central Basin water quality
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Very murky, less than 1.8 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 7.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.8 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.6 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 80 acres |
Where to stay near Thread Lake Central Basin
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Fishing Thread Lake Central Basin
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.44 m/yr | 2 |
Water Temperature
Thread Lake Central Basin averages about 78°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in May (about 69°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 17 field readings (2022–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Thread Lake Central Basin water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 9 lakes in Genesee County
Nearby Lakes in Genesee County
Explore Thread Lake Central Basin across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
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 C Lakes in Michigan
Livingston County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Lapeer County · Clarity: 9 ft
Lapeer County · Clarity: 7.5 ft
Lapeer County · Clarity: 7 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 9 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 8 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Thread Lake Central Basin is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Thread Lake Dam (completed 1973), built primarily for recreation on the Thread Creek; gravity-type dam, 9 ft tall and 293 ft long.
- Surface area
- 80 ac
- Normal storage
- 320 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,250 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 57.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- City of Flint
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00063 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.57 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Thread Lake Central Basin 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 MI040802040306-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.36 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Thread Lake Central Basin under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger.
- Flint MS4Flint · 1.9 mi away · NPDES MI0053864Major
- Flint Public Schools MS4-GeneseeFlint · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MI0060363
- Gm-Former V8 Engine Plt-FlintFlint · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MI0057422
- Gm Flint ComplexFlint · 3.2 mi away · NPDES MI0001104
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: 2022-09-17
Monitoring stations: 1