Earl Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Livingston County, Michigan. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Compared to the 19 other monitored lakes in Livingston County, Earl Lake ranks #20 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2021-09-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Earl Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 5.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.5 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Earl Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Earl Lake in Livingston 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 Earl 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 Earl Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Earl Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Fishing Earl Lake
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #20 of 20 lakes in Livingston County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Earl Lake holds Grade D. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- AOre Lake West Basin; Hamburg TownshipLivingston County · 9.7 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → A)
- BOneida Lake East Central BasinLivingston County · 9.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- BBass LakeLivingston County · 10.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- CEarl Lake Central BasinLivingston County · 0 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Livingston County
Explore Earl Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Livingston County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Michigan
Shiawassee County · Clarity: 5.5 ft
Shiawassee County · Clarity: 6.5 ft
Washtenaw County · Clarity: 6.3 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 4.5 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 3.8 ft
Clinton County · Clarity: 6.5 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Earl 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 MI040802030104-08 · 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 Earl Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Chem-Trend Lp-Grand RiverHowell · 0.6 mi away · NPDES MI0041718Recent 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
Most recent sample: 2021-09-12
Monitoring stations: 1