Whitefish Lake
Montcalm County, MichiganView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #3 of 4 in the county
- Public access
Whitefish Lake in Montcalm County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 13.5 ft
- Typical in September
- 62°F
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 14.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 3.3 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Whitefish Lake’s letter
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Whitefish Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Montcalm County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 21 documented fish species including Black crappie, Blackchin shiner, and Bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Montcalm County, Whitefish Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Whitefish Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13.5 ft of visibility
- Fishing21 species recorded
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Whitefish 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 Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft. Phosphorus 14.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.3 µg/L. TSI 42. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Whitefish Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 60°F. Usually warmest in Sep (about 62°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 642 field readings (2021–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Whitefish Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Whitefish Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.2 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.23 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.55 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Whitefish 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 MI040601020806-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.79 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Whitefish Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Sand Lake S-N-GSand Lake · 2.5 mi away · NPDES MIG080895
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Montcalm County
Nearby Lakes in Montcalm County
Frequently asked questions about Whitefish Lake
Where is Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish Lake is a lake in Montcalm County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish Lake in Montcalm County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L.
Is Whitefish Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Whitefish Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September, from 642 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
What fish are in Whitefish Lake?
- Fish species found in Whitefish Lake include Black crappie, Blackchin shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Central mudminnow, Grass pickerel, Green sunfish, Iowa darter, Johnny darter, Largemouth bass, Least darter, Longnose gar, Mimic shiner, Northern longear sunfish, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Western banded killifish, White sucker, Yellow bullhead, Yellow perch. Whitefish Lake is located in Montcalm County, Michigan.
Explore Whitefish Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
104 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2019–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS104 samples · 2019–2023
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)