Upper Long Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Oakland County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Oakland County, Upper Long Lake ranks #40 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Upper Long Lake 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 8 ft. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Upper Long Lake
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Fishing Upper Long Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +4.64 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.45 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #40 of 45 lakes in Oakland County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Upper Long Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Oakland County
Explore Upper Long Lake 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
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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
Livingston County · Clarity: 8 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 9 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Upper Long Lake 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 MI040900040401-12 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.55 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Upper Long Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Bloomfield Hills Ps MS4-OaklandBloomfield Hills · 2.1 mi away · NPDES MI0060026Recent violation
- Bloomfield Twp MS4-OaklandBloomfield Hills · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MI0059974Recent violation
- Franklin MS4-OaklandFranklin · 4.9 mi away · NPDES MI0059959Recent violation
- Bloomfield Twp-SwmaBloomfield Hills · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MIG610026
- City Of Bloomfield HillsBloomfield Hills · 4.2 mi away · NPDES MI0025461
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: 2022-09-18
Monitoring stations: 1