Blue Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Iron County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Brook stickleback, Brook trout, and Central mudminnow. Public access is available. Compared to the 38 other monitored lakes in Iron County, Blue Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 20.5 ft down. Trophic State Index: 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 20.5 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Blue Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Blue Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.339 m/yr | 4 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 39 lakes in Iron County
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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More records, surveys & data sources
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-09-16
Monitoring stations: 1