Whitmore Lake
Livingston County, Michigan441 acresView mapDirections
Not Rated: one monitoring station are on record, but they measured water clarity only. LakeQuality’s A–F method grades total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity; clarity is shown, not scored.
- Impaired · Mercury
- 69 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Whitmore Lake in Livingston County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 69 ft. Surface area: 441 acres.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Max depth
- 69 ft
- Area
- 441 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Whitmore Lake’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Whitmore Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 69 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Whitmore Lake has no grade
Whitmore Lake has monitoring on record from one station, but only water clarity was measured. LakeQuality’s A–F letter uses total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity against EPA National Lakes Assessment condition classes. With none of those grading measurements on record, Whitmore Lake is Not Rated — not an F. Its 9-foot median from 76 readings collected 2019–2022 is still shown as clarity, but clarity alone cannot earn a letter.
Not Rated is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. 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.
Whitmore Lake is a 441-acre lake in Livingston County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 69 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Bowfin. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Whitmore Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Deep water69 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Whitmore Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Whitmore Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. TSI 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 69 ft |
| Surface Area | 441 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Lake WhitmorePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Whitmore Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.886 m/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Whitmore Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Whitmore Lake Control Structure (completed 1969), built primarily for recreation on the No Outlet; concrete-type dam, 8 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 441 ac
- Normal storage
- 450 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 900 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI04005 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.99 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Whitmore Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040900050301-02 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Whitmore Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Northfield Twp WwtpWhitmore Lake · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MI0023710MajorRecent violation
- Hop-In Mich-Whitmore LakeWhitmore Lake · 2.4 mi away · NPDES MI0053341
- Clark Station #2118Whitmore Lake · 3 mi away · NPDES MIG080990
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.
Graded lakes near Whitmore Lake
Whitmore Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Livingston County
Frequently asked questions about Whitmore Lake
Where is Whitmore Lake?
- Whitmore Lake is a lake in Livingston County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — 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.
What is the water quality grade for Whitmore Lake?
- Whitmore Lake in Livingston County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 69 ft. Surface area: 441 acres.
Is Whitmore Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Whitmore Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Whitmore Lake?
- Whitmore Lake has a maximum depth of 69 feet. The lake covers 441 acres.
What fish are in Whitmore Lake?
- Fish species found in Whitmore Lake include Bowfin. Whitmore Lake is located in Livingston County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Whitmore Lake?
- Whitmore Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Whitmore. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Whitmore Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Livingston County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
76 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2019–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS76 samples · 2019–2022
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)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory