Lake Charlevoix
Lake Charlevoix in Charlevoix County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 122 ft. Surface area: 17255.9 acres.
- Clarity
- 17.8 ft
- Max depth
- 122 ft
- Area
- 17,256 acres
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Lake Charlevoix 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 Lake Charlevoix, 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.
Lake Charlevoix is a 17,256-acre lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 122 feet. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Lake whitefish, Rainbow smelt, and Round whitefish. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-08-24. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Lake Charlevoix water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedBacteria advisory
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Lake Charlevoix
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 17.8 ft down. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Lake Charlevoix
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Charlevoix 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 Lake Charlevoix
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake Charlevoix → · more Michigan lake trips
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 122 ft |
| Surface Area | 17,256 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Dutchman's BayPublic
- Bridge StreetPublic
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 Lake Charlevoix
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Charlevoix is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601050206-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.59 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Charlevoix under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Dura Automotive SystemsEast Jordan · 0.6 mi away · NPDES MIG250408Recent violation
- Burnette Foods Inc-East JordanEast Jordan · 0.9 mi away · NPDES MI0058855Recent violation
- East Iron Works IncEast Jordan · 0.4 mi away · NPDES MI0003590
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 Lake Charlevoix
Lake Charlevoix has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Charlevoix County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Charlevoix
Where is Lake Charlevoix?
- Lake Charlevoix 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 Lake Charlevoix?
- Lake Charlevoix in Charlevoix County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 122 ft. Surface area: 17255.9 acres.
Is Lake Charlevoix safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lake Charlevoix 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 Lake Charlevoix?
- Lake Charlevoix has a maximum depth of 122 feet. The lake covers 17255.9 acres.
What fish are in Lake Charlevoix?
- Fish species found in Lake Charlevoix include Lake whitefish, Rainbow smelt, Round whitefish. Lake Charlevoix is located in Charlevoix County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Charlevoix?
- Lake Charlevoix has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Dutchman's Bay, Bridge Street. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Charlevoix across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
6 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
NALMS6 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