Is Ottawa Lake Safe for Swimming?
Ottawa Lake in Iron County, Michigan has nutrient and algae measurements on record from state and federal monitoring. A water-quality reading is not a swimming clearance. The state water agency and county health departments post current advisories; check them before you swim.. Water clarity: 19.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 19.3 ft |
| Phosphorus | 10 μg/L |
| Location | Iron County, Michigan |
How does Ottawa Lake compare?
On nutrient and algae readings, Ottawa Lake matches or beats the Michigan state average. It ranks #14 of 21 lakes in Iron County on nutrient and algae readings.
Water clarity (Secchi depth) sits at 19.3 feet. That counts as exceptional clarity — sunlight penetrates deep, supporting submerged plants and limiting algae.
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