Viking Lake
Viking Lake in Otsego County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 36.1 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.8 ft
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 36 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Viking 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 Viking 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.
Viking Lake is a 36-acre lake in Otsego County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including Blackchin shiner, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2018-09-02. 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 Viking Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Viking Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Viking Lake in Otsego 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 Viking Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 36 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Viking Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.296 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.57 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.4 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Graded lakes near Viking Lake
Viking Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Otsego County
Frequently asked questions about Viking Lake
Where is Viking Lake?
- Viking Lake is a lake in Otsego County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Viking Lake?
- Viking Lake in Otsego County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 36.1 acres.
Is Viking Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Viking 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 Viking Lake?
- Viking Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 36.1 acres.
What fish are in Viking Lake?
- Fish species found in Viking Lake include Blackchin shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Brown trout, Central mudminnow, Common shiner, Creek chub, Hornyhead chub, Iowa darter, Johnny darter, Largemouth bass, Least darter, Mimic shiner, Northern longear sunfish, Rainbow darter, Rock bass, White sucker, Yellow perch. Viking Lake is located in Otsego County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Viking Lake?
- Viking Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Viking Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2017–2018. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS20 samples · 2017–2018
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory