Late afternoon sun over Slim Lake, scattering a bright path across wind-textured water

Leelanau County Lake Quality

Michigan, 25 lakes, measured by EGLE

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. 9 of those lakes carry recent nutrient and algae readings. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. The county-wide picture is low-to-moderate phosphorus with clear summer transparency across most monitored lakes.

The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the readings sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest measured lake is South Bar Lake.

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Quick Answers for Leelanau County

Cleanest lakes in Leelanau County →Cleanest lakes in Michigan →Best swimming lakes in Michigan →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for South Bar Lake — or check the official Michigan fishing regulations.

Fishing in Leelanau County

Leelanau County Fishing Guide

Fish species and the cleanest lakes in Leelanau County

All Lakes in Leelanau County

25 lakes · 9 ranked on readings, 16 without enough sampling9 lakes ranked on readings · 16 without enough sampling, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (16)

#	Lake	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	South Bar LakeLeelanau	8.5 ft	14 µg/L	3.8 µg/L	No recent samples	13 ft	Not recorded
2	Lake LeelanauLeelanau	16 ft	10 µg/L	1.1 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
3	Brooks LakeLeelanau	9.5 ft	10 µg/L	3.2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
4	Fisher LakeLeelanau	No recent samples	10 µg/L	1 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
5	Florence LakeLeelanau	8.2 ft	16.6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
6	North Bar LakeLeelanau	12.7 ft	9.3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
7	Bass LakeLeelanau	11.2 ft	10.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
8	Shell LakeLeelanau	11.4 ft	10.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	12 ft	Not recorded
9	Manitou LakeLeelanau	13.3 ft	13.1 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Glen LakeLeelanau	16 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	130 ft	✓ Public
	Lake LeelanauLeelanau	13.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	62 ft	✓ Public
	Armstrong LakeLeelanau	11.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Lime LakeLeelanau	13 ft	5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	67 ft	Not recorded
	Mud LakeLeelanau	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	18 ft	Not recorded
	Leelanau, Lake NorthLeelanau	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Little Traverse LakeLeelanau	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	56 ft	Not recorded
	School LakeLeelanau	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	6 ft	Not recorded
	Glen Lake, LittleLeelanau	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Cedar LakeLeelanau	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	45 ft	Not recorded
	Davis LakeLeelanau	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	✓ Public
	Polack LakeLeelanau	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Mougeys LakeLeelanau	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Bass LakeLeelanau	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Duck LakeLeelanau	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	5 ft	Not recorded
	Leg LakeLeelanau	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded

NR = no nutrient or algae reading on record. The measurements are published as the authority reports them. Where the data comes from.

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Source: the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). See data sources.