Big Twin Lake Southeast Basin; Blue Lake Township is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including Bluntnose minnow, Brown bullhead, and Common shiner. Public access is available. Compared to the 23 other monitored lakes in Kalkaska County, Big Twin Lake Southeast Basin; Blue Lake Township ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Big Twin Lake Southeast 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
Crystal clear, you can see 23 ft down. Chlorophyll-a: 2.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 23 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.3 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Big Twin Lake Southeast Basin; Blue Lake Township
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Twin Lake Southeast Basin; Blue Lake Township
- → Big Twin Lake Southeast Basin; Blue Lake Township fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Big Twin Lake Southeast Basin; Blue Lake Township fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Big Twin Lake Southeast Basin; Blue Lake Township? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +5.615 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.1 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 24 lakes in Kalkaska County
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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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
Most recent sample: 2023-09-06
Monitoring stations: 1