Crawford County Lake Quality
Michigan, 6 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Crawford County has 6 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. The county-wide average lands at B — solid water quality with most lakes carrying clear summer transparency and low-to-moderate phosphorus.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Lake Margrethe (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Crawford County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Lake Margrethe, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official Michigan fishing regulations.
Fishing in Crawford County
All Lakes in Crawford County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Margrethe | A | 16 ft | - |
| 2 | Margrethe Lake | A | 16 ft | - |
| 3 | Twin Lakes; Grayling Twp | A | 19 ft | - |
| 4 | Kneff Lakes | A | 19 ft | - |
| 5 | Wakeley Lake; Central Basin; Grayling Township | B | 6.5 ft | - |
| 6 | Wakeley Lake | D | 6.5 ft | - |
Other Counties in Michigan
See how Crawford County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 15 states.
Where to stay near Crawford County
Top-rated places to stay near Crawford County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.