Iron County Lake Quality

Michigan, 31 lakes, average grade B (Good)

Iron County's 31 graded lakes fall in the moderate-density bracket for Michigan. The county-level average smooths over real differences — a single agricultural watershed near the southwest corner can pull the average down even if the rest of the county runs clean. The county-wide average lands at B — solid water quality with most lakes carrying clear summer transparency and low-to-moderate phosphorus.

The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Iron Lake (A); the most-stressed is West Maggie Lake (C).

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Top-rated places to stay near Iron County

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Quick Answers for Iron County

Cleanest lakes in Iron County →Cleanest lakes in Michigan →Safest swimming lakes in Michigan →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Iron Lake — or check the official Michigan fishing regulations.

Fishing in Iron County

Iron County Fishing Guide

Fish species and best-graded lakes in Iron County

All Lakes in Iron County

31 lakes · 14 graded, 17 not rated14 graded lakes · 17 not rated, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (17)

#	Lake	Grade	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	AIron LakeIron	A	9 ft	9 µg/L	2.6 µg/L	No recent samples	45 ft	Not recorded
2	AEllen LakeIron	A	17.3 ft	8 µg/L	1.8 µg/L	No recent samples	73 ft	Not recorded
3	APerch LakeIron	A	6 ft	24 µg/L	4.8 µg/L	No recent samples	14 ft	Not recorded
4	ABig Maggie LakeIron	A	11.5 ft	10 µg/L	1.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
5	ALittle Maggie LakeIron	A	12.3 ft	16 µg/L	3.6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
6	ASunset LakeIron	A	13.5 ft	8.5 µg/L	1.9 µg/L	No recent samples	54 ft	Not recorded
7	BGolden LakeIron	B	23 ft	10 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	100 ft	✓ Public
8	BSmoky LakeIron	B	24 ft	7.8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
9	BOttawa LakeIron	B	19.3 ft	10 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
10	BChicagon LakeIron	B	20 ft	9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	110 ft	Not recorded
11	BHagerman LakeIron	B	21 ft	8.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	50 ft	✓ Public
12	BWinslow LakeIron	B	5.5 ft	15 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	✓ Public
13	BSecond Fortune LakeIron	B	21 ft	7.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	80 ft	Not recorded
14	CWest Maggie LakeIron	C	7 ft	15 µg/L	10 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRStanley LakeIron	NR	9.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	39 ft	Not recorded
	NRLake EllenIron	NR	17.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	73 ft	✓ Public
	NRMaggie LakesIron	NR	9 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLake MaryIron	NR	19 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	48 ft	✓ Public
	NRStager LakeIron	NR	13 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	55 ft	✓ Public
	NRSwan LakeIron	NR	9.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public
	NRFirst LakeIron	NR	21 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRHannah Webb LakeIron	NR	20.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRCamp LakeIron	NR	15 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	56 ft	✓ Public
	NRLake OttawaIron	NR	19.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBlue LakeIron	NR	21.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRCable LakeIron	NR	7.3 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	Not recorded
	NRBuck LakeIron	NR	11 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	Not recorded
	NRBrule LakeIron	NR	5 ft	22 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public
	NRIndian LakeIron	NR	17 ft	10 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	36 ft	✓ Public
	NRPorter LakeIron	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	33 ft	✓ Public
	NRRobinson LakeIron	NR	No recent samples	17 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public

NR = not rated: there is not enough recent sampling to support a letter. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.

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