Deer Lake
Charlevoix County, Michigan464 acresView mapDirections
Not Rated: one monitoring station are on record, but they measured water clarity only. LakeQuality’s A–F method grades total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity; clarity is shown, not scored.
- Impaired · Mercury
- 20 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Deer Lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 463.7 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Max depth
- 20 ft
- Area
- 464 acres
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Deer Lake’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Deer Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 20 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Deer Lake has no grade
Deer Lake has monitoring on record from one station, but only water clarity was measured. LakeQuality’s A–F letter uses total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity against EPA National Lakes Assessment condition classes. With none of those grading measurements on record, Deer Lake is Not Rated — not an F. Its 11.5-foot median from 8 readings collected 2022 is still shown as clarity, but clarity alone cannot earn a letter.
Not Rated is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Deer Lake is a 464-acre lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, and Common shiner. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-06. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Deer Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.5 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing14 species recorded
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Deer Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Deer Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. TSI 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 464 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Deer LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Deer Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Deer 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 MI040601050204-02 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Deer Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Boyne City WwtpBoyne City · 3.2 mi away · NPDES MI0021474Recent violation
- Stafford'S Water Street CoBoyne City · 3.5 mi away · NPDES MIG250399
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.
Graded lakes near Deer Lake
Deer Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Charlevoix County
Frequently asked questions about Deer Lake
Where is Deer Lake?
- Deer Lake is a lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Deer Lake?
- Deer Lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 463.7 acres.
Is Deer Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Deer Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Deer Lake?
- Deer Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 463.7 acres.
What fish are in Deer Lake?
- Fish species found in Deer Lake include Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Common shiner, Creek chub, Largemouth bass, Mimic shiner, Northern logperch, Northern longear sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Sand shiner, Smallmouth bass, Western banded killifish, Yellow perch. Deer Lake is located in Charlevoix County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Deer Lake?
- Deer Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Deer Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
8 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS8 samples · 2022
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory