Ford Lake

Soundings in feet · 958 acres · deepest 30 ft

Today on the lake

Updated 9 Oct 2026, 3:31 am EDT. Get alerts for Ford Lake

WEATHEROvernight: clear, 43°F, wind W 3 mph. Friday: sunny, 69°F, wind WSW 2 to 6 mph.

WARNINGSNo weather or fire warnings in effect.

FIRENo wildfires or prescribed burns reported within 25 miles.

BURNINGCampfires and debris burning: check today's status with Michigan DNR.

ALGAECAUTION Satellite detected cyanobacteria across about 35% of the lake on 6 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image. Blooms were reported on 25 Sep 2026; not tested.

National Weather Service; National Interagency Fire Center; U.S. EPA CyAN satellite; Michigan DHHS; Michigan DNR. Weather, warnings, fires and satellite refresh when you open the page (checked at most hourly).

Depth map

4 contours, 5 to 30 ft

05102030feet

Michigan DNR survey, fetched 7 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.

Size and depth

958 acres · deepest 30 ft (measured) · shoreline about 11.3 mi · clarity about 5 ft

Ford Lake is the largest of the 84 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Washtenaw County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 21st deepest of the 45 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 6 of the other 66 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 11.3 miles along the state outline. About 71% of its area is deeper than 10 ft.

Ranks against Washtenaw County lakes in Michigan hydrography, Michigan DNR lake surveys and Michigan EGLE satellite clarity; shoreline measured from the state outline. How we measure

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Ford Lake 29 times since 1979. The most recent stocking was 440 northern pike on 6 June 2006. Species stocked: bluegill, channel catfish, northern pike, tiger muskellunge, walleye.

29 stockings, 1979 to 2006, log scale

Latest: 6 Jun 2006: 440 northern pike.

6 Jun 2006STOCKED440 northern pike

29 Sep 2004STOCKED6,036 channel catfish

18 Sep 2002STOCKED7,260 channel catfish

2 Oct 2000STOCKED7,502 channel catfish

20 Oct 1999STOCKED12,300 channel catfish

21 Oct 1998STOCKED19,035 channel catfish

Source: Michigan DNR Fisheries, fetched 7 Oct 2026. How we measure

Where the deep water is

Show water deeper than

Measured from Michigan DNR contours. How we measure

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 5 ft (Secchi depth 1.4 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 4.6 ft of 30 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

CAUTION Algal blooms were reported on Ford Lake on 25 September 2026; they were not tested for toxins. The highest toxin level measured here was microcystin at 78.8 ppb on 8 September 2022, 10 times the EPA swimming guideline of 8 ppb. 21 water samples are on record, the latest from 11 July 2025. Check current advisories before swimming.

Source: Michigan DHHS harmful algal bloom sampling; U.S. EPA 2019 recreational criteria. Fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Ford LakeWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Ford Lake 29 times since 1979, most recently 440 northern pike on 6 June 2006. None in the last five years.When algae is reported or testedMichigan DHHS lists 9 bloom reports and 21 water samples here. 1 record in 2026, the latest on 25 Sep 2026.When satellite sees a bloom startEPA satellite, checked daily, June to October. We email when a bloom first shows on two clear days, not every day it stays. In 2026 that happened on 18 Aug.Any lake in Washtenaw CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 3 emails.

In 2026 so far, these alerts would have sent you 2 emails about Ford Lake: 18 Aug and 25 Sep.

Email address

At most one email a week per lake. We email you a link to confirm before any alert is sent; every email has a one-click unsubscribe.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Huron River15 ft deep · 3.8 mi · Washtenaw County

Huron River20 ft deep · 4.5 mi · Washtenaw County

Geddes Pond10 ft deep · 6.0 mi · Washtenaw County

Belleville Lake30 ft deep · 7.1 mi · Wayne County

Murray Lake40 ft deep · 7.7 mi · Washtenaw County

Frain Lake25 ft deep · 7.8 mi · Washtenaw County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Ford Lake?

Ford Lake is 30 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 958 acres.

Is Ford Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 29 times since 1979, most recently 440 northern pike on 6 June 2006.

How much of Ford Lake is deeper than 10 feet?

About 71% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.

Has Ford Lake had toxic algae?

Algal blooms were reported on 25 September 2026 and were not tested. The highest toxin level measured was microcystin at 78.8 ppb (8 September 2022). Check current advisories before swimming.