West Maggie Lake
Iron County, MichiganView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #21 of 21 in the county
- 35 ft max depth
West Maggie Lake in Iron County, Michigan has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Typical in September
- 62°F
- Max depth
- ~35 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Stays via Stay22
Stays near West Maggie Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near West Maggie Lake in Iron 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 West Maggie Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Watch West Maggie Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
West Maggie Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Iron County, Michigan with an estimated average depth of about 35 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Iron County, West Maggie Lake ranks #21 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-08-24. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 10 µg/L. TSI 48. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
West Maggie Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 60°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 63°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 50 field readings (2016–2016) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full West Maggie Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~35 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~9 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Michigan has not published bathymetry for West Maggie Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing West Maggie Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.983 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.96 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.09 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #21 of 21 lakes in Iron County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
West Maggie Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Iron County
Frequently asked questions about West Maggie Lake
Where is West Maggie Lake?
- West Maggie Lake is a lake in Iron County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for West Maggie Lake?
- West Maggie Lake in Iron County, Michigan has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10 µg/L.
Is West Maggie Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of West Maggie Lake?
- West Maggie Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September, from 50 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2016). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is West Maggie Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers West Maggie Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 35 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Explore West Maggie Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Iron County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Upper Peninsula area
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Michigan
Eutrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
84 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS84 samples · 2016–2023
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)