Deer Lake
Deer Lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 463.7 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Max depth
- 20 ft
- Area
- 464 acres
- Public access
- Yes
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Deer Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 20 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Deer Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Deer Lake, 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. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. 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.
Deer Lake is a 464-acre lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, and Common shiner. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-06. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Deer Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Deer Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Deer Lake in Charlevoix 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 Deer Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 464 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Deer LakePublic
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 Deer Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Deer 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 MI040601050204-02 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Deer Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Boyne City WwtpBoyne City · 3.2 mi away · NPDES MI0021474Recent violation
- Stafford'S Water Street CoBoyne City · 3.5 mi away · NPDES MIG250399
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 Deer Lake
Deer Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Charlevoix County
Frequently asked questions about Deer Lake
Where is Deer Lake?
- Deer Lake is a lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Deer Lake?
- Deer Lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 463.7 acres.
Is Deer Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Deer Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Deer Lake?
- Deer Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 463.7 acres.
What fish are in Deer Lake?
- Fish species found in Deer Lake include Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Common shiner, Creek chub, Largemouth bass, Mimic shiner, Northern logperch, Northern longear sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Sand shiner, Smallmouth bass, Western banded killifish, Yellow perch. Deer Lake is located in Charlevoix County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Deer Lake?
- Deer Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Deer Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Deer Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
8 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS8 samples · 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)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory