Townsend Lake
Townsend Lake in Oakland County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 417 acres.
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Max depth
- 55 ft
- Area
- 417 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Why Townsend Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Townsend Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Townsend Lake is a 417-acre lake in Oakland County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 55 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Lake herring.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2018-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedBacteria advisory
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Townsend Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Townsend Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Townsend Lake in Oakland County, Michigan — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Townsend Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft |
| Surface Area | 417 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Townsend Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.171 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.04 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.6 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Townsend Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Waterford Multi-Lakes Level Control (completed 1973), built primarily for recreation on the Clinton River; earth-type dam, 12 ft tall and 300 ft long.
- Surface area
- 417 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,800 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 37 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Oakland County Drain Commissioner
All listed purposes: Recreation;Other.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00275 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.55 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Townsend Lake 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 MI040900030103-12 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.26 km)
Nearby Lakes in Oakland County
Frequently asked questions about Townsend Lake
Where is Townsend Lake?
- Townsend Lake is a lake in Oakland County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Townsend Lake?
- Townsend Lake in Oakland County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 417 acres.
Is Townsend Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Townsend Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Townsend Lake?
- Townsend Lake has a maximum depth of 55 feet. The lake covers 417 acres.
What fish are in Townsend Lake?
- Fish species found in Townsend Lake include Lake herring. Townsend Lake is located in Oakland County, Michigan.
Explore Townsend Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
8 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2018. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS8 samples · 2018
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database