Black Lake
Cheboygan County, MichiganView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Oligotrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Black Lake in Cheboygan County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.8 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 13 ft
- Typical in September
- 65°F
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 10 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 1.8 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Black Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Cheboygan County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-03. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Black Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Phosphorus 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.8 µg/L. TSI 38. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Water Temperature
Black Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 64°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 69°F) and coldest in May (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 135 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Black Lake water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Black Lake (South)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Black Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +8.12 m/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Cheboygan County
Nearby Lakes in Cheboygan County
Frequently asked questions about Black Lake
Where is Black Lake?
- Black Lake is a lake in Cheboygan County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Black Lake?
- Black Lake in Cheboygan County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.8 µg/L.
Is Black Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Black Lake?
- Black Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, from 135 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Black Lake?
- Black Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Black Lake (South). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Black Lake across LakeQuality
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Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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Where this data comes from
14 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS14 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory