Leelanau County Lake Quality

Michigan, 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.

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Quick Answers for Leelanau County

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

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Glen Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official Michigan fishing regulations.

Fishing in Leelanau County

Leelanau County Fishing Guide

Fish species and best-graded lakes in Leelanau County

All Lakes in Leelanau County

Rank	Lake	Grade	Clarity	Phosphorus
1	Glen Lake	A	15.5 ft	-
2	Lake Leelanau; North Basin	A	18 ft	-
3	Lime Lake	A	15.8 ft	-
4	Fisher Lake	A	-	-
5	Bass Lake	A	11.2 ft	11.7 µg/L
6	Manitou Lake	A	13.3 ft	13.5 µg/L
7	North Bar Lake	A	12.7 ft	14.7 µg/L
8	Shell Lake	A	11.2 ft	19.7 µg/L
9	Florence Lake	B	8.6 ft	17.2 µg/L
10	Lake Leelanau	B	12.5 ft	-
11	Lake Leelanau; South Basin; Center of Deepest Basin; Bingham Township	B	11.8 ft	-
12	Lime Lake Central Basin; Cleveland Township	B	13 ft	-
13	Brooks Lake	B	9 ft	-
14	South Bar Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Empire Township	B	8.5 ft	-
15	Brooks Lake	C	9.5 ft	-
16	South Bar Lake	C	8.3 ft	-