Fife Lake
Fife Lake in Grand Traverse County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 597.2 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.7 ft
- Max depth
- 55 ft
- Area
- 597 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Fife Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 55 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Fife 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 Fife 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.
Fife Lake is a 597-acre lake in Grand Traverse County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 55 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Johnny darter and Smallmouth bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2024-07-01. 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 Fife Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 13.7 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Fife Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fife Lake in Grand Traverse 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 Fife Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft |
| Surface Area | 597 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Spring LakePublic
- Fife 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 Fife Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -8.936 m/yr | 5 |
Graded lakes near Fife Lake
Fife Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Grand Traverse County
Frequently asked questions about Fife Lake
Where is Fife Lake?
- Fife Lake is a lake in Grand Traverse 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 Fife Lake?
- Fife Lake in Grand Traverse County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 597.2 acres.
Is Fife Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Fife 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 Fife Lake?
- Fife Lake has a maximum depth of 55 feet. The lake covers 597.2 acres.
What fish are in Fife Lake?
- Fish species found in Fife Lake include Johnny darter, Smallmouth bass. Fife Lake is located in Grand Traverse County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Fife Lake?
- Fife Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Spring Lake, Fife Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Fife Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2019–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS5 samples · 2019–2024
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory