Leelanau County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 21 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Leelanau County's 21 graded lakes fall in the moderate-density bracket for Michigan. The county-level average smooths over real differences — a single agricultural watershed near the southwest corner can pull the average down even if the rest of the county runs clean. With an average grade of B, Leelanau County sits comfortably above the Michigan median.
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. Glen Lake (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Leelanau County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Glen Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
All Lakes in Leelanau County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glen Lake | A | 15.5 ft | - | - |
| 2 | Glen Lake North Cent Basin; Glen Arbor Township Section 35 | A | 22 ft | - | - |
| 3 | West Arm Grand Traverse Bay 2 Mi From South Shore Lake | A | 38.2 ft | - | - |
| 4 | Lake Leelanau; North Basin | A | 18 ft | - | - |
| 5 | Lime Lake | A | 15.8 ft | - | - |
| 6 | Fisher Lake | A | - | - | - |
| 7 | Csmi 2015 Station 76471 Lake | A | - | - | - |
| 8 | Csmi 2015 Station Fr Lake | A | - | - | - |
| 9 | Bass Lake | A | 11.2 ft | - | 11.7 µg/L |
| 10 | Glen Lake Southeast Basin; Empire Township Section 4 | A | 12 ft | - | - |
| 11 | Manitou Lake | A | 13.3 ft | - | 13.5 µg/L |
| 12 | North Bar Lake | A | 12.7 ft | - | 14.7 µg/L |
| 13 | Shell Lake | A | 11.2 ft | - | 19.7 µg/L |
| 14 | Florence Lake | B | 8.6 ft | - | 17.2 µg/L |
| 15 | Lake Leelanau | B | 12.5 ft | - | - |
| 16 | Lake Leelanau; South Basin; Center of Deepest Basin; Bingham Township | B | 11.8 ft | - | - |
| 17 | Lime Lake Central Basin; Cleveland Township | B | 13 ft | - | - |
| 18 | Brooks Lake | B | 9 ft | - | - |
| 19 | South Bar Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Empire Township | B | 8.5 ft | - | - |
| 20 | Brooks Lake | C | 9.5 ft | - | - |
| 21 | South Bar Lake | C | 8.3 ft | - | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.