Whitmore Lake is a 441-acre mesotrophic lake in Livingston County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. 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. Compared to the 19 other monitored lakes in Livingston County, Whitmore Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Whitmore Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 441 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Whitmore Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Whitmore Lake in Livingston 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 Whitmore Lake
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 trip to Whitmore Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Whitmore Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Whitmore Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.717 m/yr | 4 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 20 lakes in Livingston County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Whitmore Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Livingston County
Explore Whitmore Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Livingston County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Michigan
Washtenaw County · Clarity: 7.2 ft
Washtenaw County · Clarity: 5.8 ft
Washtenaw County · Clarity: 9 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 9 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 9 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
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
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-09-15
Monitoring stations: 1