Upper Straits Lake
Upper Straits Lake in Oakland County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 96 ft. Surface area: 345.1 acres.
- Clarity
- 14.5 ft
- Max depth
- 96 ft
- Area
- 345 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Why Upper Straits 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 Upper Straits 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.
Upper Straits Lake is a 345-acre lake in Oakland County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 96 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2019-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Upper Straits Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 14.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Upper Straits Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Upper Straits 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 Upper Straits Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 96 ft |
| Surface Area | 345 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Upper Straits Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.085 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.2 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.7 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Upper Straits Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040900030108-12 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.32 km)
Graded lakes near Upper Straits Lake
Upper Straits Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Oakland County
Frequently asked questions about Upper Straits Lake
Where is Upper Straits Lake?
- Upper Straits Lake is a lake in Oakland County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — 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.
What is the water quality grade for Upper Straits Lake?
- Upper Straits Lake in Oakland County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 96 ft. Surface area: 345.1 acres.
Is Upper Straits Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Upper Straits 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 Upper Straits Lake?
- Upper Straits Lake has a maximum depth of 96 feet. The lake covers 345.1 acres.
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Where this data comes from
37 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2019. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS37 samples · 2016–2019
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)