Upper Woodcock Lake
Benzie County, Michigan34 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #15 of 21 in the county
- 45 ft max depth
- Limited data
Upper Woodcock Lake in Benzie County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 33.6 acres.
- Clarity
- 11 ft
- Typical in September
- 56°F
- Max depth
- 45 ft
- Area
- 34 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 7 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 1.7 µg/L
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Watch Upper Woodcock Lake’s letter
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Upper Woodcock Lake is a 34-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Benzie County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 45 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including Bluntnose minnow, Common shiner, and Creek chub. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Benzie County, Upper Woodcock Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Upper Woodcock Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11 ft of visibility
- Fishing9 species recorded
- Deep water45 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Upper Woodcock Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Phosphorus 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.7 µg/L. TSI 37. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 7 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Water Temperature
Upper Woodcock Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 54°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 56°F) and coldest in May (about 48°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 127 field readings (2022–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Upper Woodcock Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 45 ft |
| Surface Area | 34 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Upper Woodcock Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Upper Woodcock 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 MI040601040202-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.86 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #15 of 21 lakes in Benzie County
Nearby Lakes in Benzie County
Frequently asked questions about Upper Woodcock Lake
Where is Upper Woodcock Lake?
- Upper Woodcock Lake is a lake in Benzie County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Upper Woodcock Lake?
- Upper Woodcock Lake in Benzie County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 33.6 acres.
Is Upper Woodcock Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Upper Woodcock Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Upper Woodcock Lake?
- Upper Woodcock Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in September, from 127 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Upper Woodcock Lake?
- Upper Woodcock Lake has a maximum depth of 45 feet. The lake covers 33.6 acres.
What fish are in Upper Woodcock Lake?
- Fish species found in Upper Woodcock Lake include Bluntnose minnow, Common shiner, Creek chub, Hornyhead chub, Mimic shiner, Northern longear sunfish, Rock bass, Rosyface shiner, Sand shiner. Upper Woodcock Lake is located in Benzie County, Michigan.
Explore Upper Woodcock Lake across LakeQuality
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Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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Planning a trip around Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Upper Woodcock Lake is about 17 miles from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes →More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS16 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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