Douglas Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Cheboygan County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 22 documented fish species including Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, and Brown bullhead. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Cheboygan County, Douglas Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-08-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Douglas Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Douglas Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Douglas Lake in Cheboygan County, Michigan — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Douglas Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Douglas Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Douglas Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Douglas Lake
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Douglas Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 80 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 7 lakes in Cheboygan County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Douglas Lake holds Grade B. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Cheboygan County
Explore Douglas Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Cheboygan County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Charlevoix County · Clarity: 13.3 ft
Charlevoix County · Clarity: 11.5 ft
Otsego County · Clarity: 10.5 ft
Charlevoix County · Clarity: 10 ft
Kalkaska County · Clarity: 12.5 ft
Kalkaska County · Clarity: 12.5 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Douglas 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 MI040700040205-04 · 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 Douglas Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Um Biological StationPellston · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MI0050598Recent 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: 2022-08-24
Monitoring stations: 1