Brooks Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Leelanau County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Leelanau County, Brooks Lake ranks #20 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Brooks Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.5 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Brooks Lake
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Fishing Brooks Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.352 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.35 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #20 of 21 lakes in Leelanau County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Brooks Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Leelanau County
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Brooks Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601040402-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.56 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: 2022-09-16
Monitoring stations: 1