Upper Woodcock Lake
Benzie County, Michigan34 acresView mapDirections
Not Rated: one monitoring station are on record, but they measured water clarity only. LakeQuality’s A–F method grades total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity; clarity is shown, not scored.
- Impaired · Mercury
- 45 ft max depth
- Limited data
Upper Woodcock Lake in Benzie County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 33.6 acres.
- Clarity
- 11 ft
- Max depth
- 45 ft
- Area
- 34 acres
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Stays near Upper Woodcock Lake
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Watch Upper Woodcock Lake’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Upper Woodcock Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 45 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Upper Woodcock Lake has no grade
Upper Woodcock Lake has monitoring on record from one station, but only water clarity was measured. LakeQuality’s A–F letter uses total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity against EPA National Lakes Assessment condition classes. With none of those grading measurements on record, Upper Woodcock Lake is Not Rated — not an F. Its 11-foot median from 9 readings collected 2022 is still shown as clarity, but clarity alone cannot earn a letter.
Not Rated is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. 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 Woodcock Lake is a 34-acre lake in Benzie County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 45 feet. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including Bluntnose minnow, Common shiner, and Creek chub.
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
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is 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 measurements for Upper Woodcock Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. TSI 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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)
Graded lakes near Upper Woodcock Lake
Upper Woodcock Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
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 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 Woodcock Lake?
- Upper Woodcock Lake in Benzie County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 33.6 acres.
Is Upper Woodcock Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is 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.
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.
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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
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Where this data comes from
9 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS9 samples · 2022
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