Elbow Lake; Deep Basin; Elk Townhip
Elbow Lake; Deep Basin; Elk Townhip in Lake County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 46.6 acres.
- Clarity
- 13 ft
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 47 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Elbow Lake; Deep Basin; Elk Townhip is a 47-acre mesotrophic lake in Lake County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 30 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2018. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Elbow Lake; Deep Basin; Elk Townhip ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2018-08-27. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Elbow Lake; Deep Basin; Elk Townhip water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Phosphorus level: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 8 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Elbow Lake; Deep Basin; Elk Townhip
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 47 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Elbow Lake; Deep Basin; Elk Townhip
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.71 m/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 7 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Elbow Lake; Deep Basin; Elk Townhip
Where is Elbow Lake; Deep Basin; Elk Townhip?
- Elbow Lake; Deep Basin; Elk Townhip is a lake in Lake County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Elbow Lake; Deep Basin; Elk Townhip?
- Elbow Lake; Deep Basin; Elk Townhip in Lake County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 46.6 acres.
Is Elbow Lake; Deep Basin; Elk Townhip safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Elbow Lake; Deep Basin; Elk Townhip has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Elbow Lake; Deep Basin; Elk Townhip?
- Elbow Lake; Deep Basin; Elk Townhip has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 46.6 acres.
Explore Elbow Lake; Deep Basin; Elk Townhip across LakeQuality
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Manistee County · 5 ft
Manistee County · 8 ft
Manistee County · 8 ft
Manistee County · Excellent
Mason County · 14 ft
Manistee County · Excellent
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2017–2018. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS23 samples · 2017–2018
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)