Emmet County Lake Quality
Michigan, 14 lakes, average grade A (Excellent)
Emmet County has 14 monitored 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. 4 of those lakes carry an A–F grade. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. The county's average grade is A — among the cleanest in Michigan. 3 lakes pull an A on their own, and almost none fall into the D or F brackets.
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. Crooked Lake (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Where to stay near Emmet County
Top-rated places to stay near Emmet County
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Emmet County?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Emmet County — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Quick Answers for Emmet County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Crooked Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official Michigan fishing regulations.
Fishing in Emmet County
All Lakes in Emmet County
14 lakes · 4 graded, 10 not rated4 graded lakes · 10 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Max Depth | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ACrooked LakeEmmet | A | No recent samples | 13 µg/L | 1.9 µg/L | No recent samples | 50 ft | ✓ Public |
| 2 | ASpring LakeEmmet | A | No recent samples | 24 µg/L | 5.3 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| 3 | AWycamp LakeEmmet | A | No recent samples | 17 µg/L | 2 µg/L | No recent samples | 7 ft | Not recorded |
| 4 | BWalloon LakeEmmet | B | No recent samples | 6.5 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| NRRound LakeEmmet | NR | No recent samples | 9.8 µg/L | 3.1 µg/L | No recent samples | 12 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRPickerel LakeEmmet | NR | 9.5 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 74 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRLake ParadiseEmmet | NR | 8 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 15 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NROneal LakeEmmet | NR | No recent samples | 24 µg/L | 2.2 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public | |
| NRLarks LakeEmmet | NR | No recent samples | 12.3 µg/L | 4.6 µg/L | No recent samples | 9 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRFrench Farm LakeEmmet | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 21 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRO'Neal LakeEmmet | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 7 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRBay HarborEmmet | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRLawrence LakeEmmet | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRLake KathleenEmmet | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
NR = not rated: there is not enough recent sampling to support a letter. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.
Lake Match
Which lake suits how you actually use one?
Six questions — swimming, fishing, quiet, cabins, drive time — and a shortlist of graded lakes that fit, with the water quality behind each one.
Other Counties in Michigan
See how Emmet County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.