Big Bass Lake North Basin; Elk Township is a mesotrophic lake in Lake County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Lake herring. Public access is available. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Big Bass Lake North Basin; Elk Township ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Big Bass Lake North Basin; Elk Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 5.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.3 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Big Bass Lake North Basin; Elk Township
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Bass Lake North Basin; Elk Township
- → Big Bass Lake North Basin; Elk Township fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Big Bass Lake North Basin; Elk Township fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Big Bass Lake North Basin; Elk Township? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.441 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.8 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Big Bass Lake North Basin; Elk Township averages about 65°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Sep (about 68°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 309 field readings (2021–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Big Bass Lake North Basin; Elk Township water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 8 lakes in Lake County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Big Bass Lake North Basin; Elk Township holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Explore Big Bass Lake North Basin; Elk Township across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Lake County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Manistee County · Clarity: 8 ft
Mason County · Clarity: 14 ft
Newaygo County · Clarity: 11.5 ft
Manistee County · Clarity: 13.8 ft
Newaygo County · Clarity: 14.7 ft
Manistee County · Clarity: 10 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Big Bass Lake North Basin; Elk Township is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601010101-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.91 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-19
Monitoring stations: 1