Tippy Pond by Dam is a 1,330-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Manistee County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Manistee County, Tippy Pond by Dam ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2026-04-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 10.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 10.2 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1,330 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Tippy Pond by Dam
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Fishing Tippy Pond by Dam
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Tippy Pond by Dam averages about 66°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 68°F) and coldest in Feb (about 33°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,291 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Tippy Pond by Dam water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 12 lakes in Manistee County
Nearby Lakes in Manistee County
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Lake County · Clarity: 18.3 ft
Lake County · Clarity: 19.5 ft
Mason County · Clarity: 25 ft
Mason County · Clarity: 26 ft
Mason County · Clarity: 14 ft
Benzie County · Clarity: 16 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Tippy Pond by Dam is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Tippy (completed 1918), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Manistee River; gravity-type dam, 82 ft tall and 830 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,330 ac
- Normal storage
- 27,620 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,451 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Consumers Energy Company
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00200 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.18 km)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2026-04-22
Monitoring stations: 1