Crooked Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Emmet County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. The lake supports 26 documented fish species including Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, and Brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Emmet County, Crooked Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2024-10-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Crooked Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Crooked Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Crooked Lake averages about 67°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 67°F) and coldest in Feb (about 38°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 34 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Crooked Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Crooked Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 50 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 10 lakes in Emmet County
Nearby Lakes in Emmet County
Explore Crooked Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Emmet 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
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Crooked Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040700040202-02 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Crooked Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Mdnr-Oden Fish HatcheryAlanson · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MI0035726Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2024-10-02
Monitoring stations: 1