Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Iosco County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Iosco County, Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 5.5 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 10.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.5 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.8 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township
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Fishing Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township
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 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 8 lakes in Iosco County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- AJewell Lake West BasinAlcona County · 18.2 mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)
- AChain Lakes East BasinIosco County · 23.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)
Nearby Lakes in Iosco County
Explore Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township across LakeGrade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township 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 · Matched by proximity (0.95 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-10
Monitoring stations: 1