What is the water quality grade for Elk Lake?

Elk Lake in Antrim County, Wisconsin received a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 14.5 ft visibility.

Is Elk Lake safe to swim in?

Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Elk Lake has an overall water quality grade of B. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

What fish are in Elk Lake?

Fish species found in Elk Lake include Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Burbot, Central mudminnow, Common shiner, Creek chub, Iowa darter, Johnny darter, Lake herring, Lake trout, Lake whitefish, Longnose gar, Mottled sculpin, Muskellunge, Ninespine stickleback, Northern logperch, Northern longear sunfish, Northern pike, Northern redbelly dace, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow trout, Rosyface shiner, Sand shiner, Smallmouth bass, White sucker, Yellow perch. Elk Lake is located in Antrim County, Wisconsin.

Elk Lake

Antrim County, WisconsinLimited DataOligotrophic

Elk Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Antrim County, MI. 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. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Antrim County, Elk Lake ranks #5 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2022-09-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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

Fish Species

Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.

→ Best fishing times for Elk Lake (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Elk Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)

→ Elk Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #5 of 6 lakes in Antrim County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

Elk Lake holds Grade B. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.

See full comparison →

Nearby Lakes in Antrim County

More Wisconsin Lake Rankings

Cleanest lakes in Wisconsin

Top 25 by overall water quality score

Best swimming lakes in Wisconsin

Grade A/B + low algae filter

Family fishing lakes in Wisconsin

Panfish-rich, public access

All Wisconsin lakes

Full state directory

Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin

Middle Lake; Elba Township; Section 13

Lapeer County · Clarity: 9.5 ft

Portage Lake

Livingston County · Clarity: 13 ft

Bear Lake East Basin; Pleasanton Township

Manistee County · Clarity: 11 ft

Bass Lake

Lake County · Clarity: 14 ft

Long Lake

Cass County · Clarity: 10.5 ft

Byram Lake West Central Basin; Fenton Township

Genesee County · Clarity: 10 ft

Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin

Lake Ann Southeast Basin; Almira Township Section 26 Windover Lake South Basin; Freeman Township Squaw Lake Moon Lake Central Basin; Watersmeet Township

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

MercuryPCBs

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601050404-02 · Official waterbody report

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Most recent sample: 2022-09-01

Monitoring stations: 1