Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2023. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including Blackchin shiner, Blacknose shiner, and Bluntnose minnow. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 23 other monitored lakes in Kalkaska County, Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township ranks #20 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
No clarity data. Chlorophyll-a: 1.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 32.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.2 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 32 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township
- → Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 80 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #20 of 24 lakes in Kalkaska County
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Crawford County · Clarity: 16 ft
Crawford County · Clarity: 16 ft
Otsego County · Clarity: 11.3 ft
Otsego County · Clarity: 18.5 ft
Otsego County · Clarity: 16.5 ft
Otsego County · Clarity: 16.5 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2023-09-08
Monitoring stations: 1