Little Platte Lake North Basin
Little Platte Lake North Basin in Benzie County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 896 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 8 ft
- Area
- 896 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Little Platte Lake North Basin is a 896-acre mesotrophic lake in Benzie County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 8 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including Bluntnose minnow, Common shiner, and Johnny darter. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Benzie County, Little Platte Lake North Basin ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2021-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 12 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Little Platte Lake North Basin
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Platte Lake North Basin in Benzie 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 Little Platte Lake North Basin
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Water Temperature
Little Platte Lake North Basin typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 71°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 24 field readings (2021–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Platte Lake North Basin water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 896 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Little Plattle 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 Little Platte Lake North Basin
EPA Impairment Status
Little Platte Lake North Basin 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 MI040601040206-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.92 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 21 lakes in Benzie County
Nearby Lakes in Benzie County
Frequently asked questions about Little Platte Lake North Basin
Where is Little Platte Lake North Basin?
- Little Platte Lake North Basin is a lake in Benzie County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Little Platte Lake North Basin?
- Little Platte Lake North Basin in Benzie County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 896 acres.
Is Little Platte Lake North Basin safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Little Platte Lake North Basin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Little Platte Lake North Basin?
- Little Platte Lake North Basin typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 24 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Platte Lake North Basin?
- Little Platte Lake North Basin has a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 896 acres.
What fish are in Little Platte Lake North Basin?
- Fish species found in Little Platte Lake North Basin include Bluntnose minnow, Common shiner, Johnny darter, Largemouth bass, Northern longear sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Smallmouth bass, Yellow perch. Little Platte Lake North Basin is located in Benzie County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Little Platte Lake North Basin?
- Little Platte Lake North Basin has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Plattle Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Little Platte Lake North Basin across LakeQuality
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Planning a trip around Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Little Platte Lake North Basin is about 15 miles from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes →More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
17 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS17 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory