Elk Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Antrim County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 27 documented fish species including Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Antrim County, Elk Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 14.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.5 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Elk Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Elk Lake
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Elk Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 150 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 6 lakes in Antrim County
Nearby Lakes in Antrim County
Explore Elk Lake across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Antrim County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 13 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 12 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 13.5 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 13.5 ft
Leelanau County · Clarity: 11.8 ft
Leelanau County · Clarity: 12.5 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Elk 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 MI040601050404-02 · 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 Elk Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Burnette Foods Inc-Elk RapidsElk Rapids · 2.8 mi away · NPDES MI0000485Recent 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: 2022-09-01
Monitoring stations: 1