Mason County, Michigan · Water Quality Report Card
Upper Hamlin Lake West Basin
Upper Hamlin Lake West Basin in Mason County, Michigan has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.9 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Mean depth
- ~23 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Upper Hamlin Lake West Basin is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Mason County, Michigan with an estimated average depth of about 23 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Mason County, Upper Hamlin Lake West Basin ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | |
| Phosphorus | 32 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~23 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Michigan has not published bathymetry for Upper Hamlin Lake West Basin.
Where to stay near Upper Hamlin Lake West Basin
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Fishing Upper Hamlin Lake West Basin
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.625 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -13.5 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Mason County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Upper Hamlin Lake West Basin holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- AManistee North LakeManistee County · 12.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)
- AManistee Lake SouthManistee County · 12.9 mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Other Grade C Lakes in Michigan
Oceana County · 7 ft
Muskegon County · 7 ft
Ottawa County · 4 ft
Mecosta County · 9.5 ft
Allegan County · 6.2 ft
Charlevoix County · Fair
Eutrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Where this data comes from
73 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS73 samples · 2021–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds come from the U.S. EPA National Lakes Assessment 2022 Technical Support Document (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion
Most recent sample: 2023-09-12
Monitoring stations: 1