Cable Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Iron County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 38 other monitored lakes in Iron County, Cable Lake ranks #34 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-04. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Cable 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 7.3 ft. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.3 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Cable Lake
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Fishing Cable Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.565 m/yr | 3 |
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Cable Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 30 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #34 of 39 lakes in Iron County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Cable Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Iron County
Explore Cable Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Iron County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade C Lakes in Michigan
Gogebic County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Gogebic County · Clarity: 7.9 ft
Gogebic County · Clarity: 9.3 ft
Gogebic County · Clarity: 7.3 ft
Gogebic County · Clarity: 7 ft
Gogebic County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Cable 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 MI040301060205-02 · Official waterbody report
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: 2022-09-04
Monitoring stations: 1