Van Etten Lake is a 1,320-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Iosco County, Michigan. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including American eel. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Iosco County, Van Etten Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Van Etten Lake Water Quality Report Card (2026)
A printable one-page report card for Van Etten Lake: grade, clarity, phosphorus, algae, multi-year trend, depth, and fish — with sources.
Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 5.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.5 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1,320 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Van Etten Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Van Etten Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.871 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.9 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Current Conditions
Latest reading Jul 6, 2026, 4:15 AM from USGS gauge 442656083202301. See live data ↗ — readings update every 15–60 minutes; this page refreshes on each build.
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 8 lakes in Iosco County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Van Etten Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Iosco County
Explore Van Etten Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Other Grade D Lakes in Michigan
Eutrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Van Etten Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Van Etten Lake Dam (completed 1947), built primarily for recreation on the Pine River; earth-type dam, 9 ft tall and 150 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,320 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,100 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 5,040 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 281.67 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Iosco County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00737 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Van Etten 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 MI040700070609-04 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Van Etten Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Usaf-Wurtsmith AfbOscoda · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MI0042285
- Oscoda Twp WtpOscoda · 3.4 mi away · NPDES MI0028282
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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-09-08
Monitoring stations: 1