Ellen Lake South Central Basin; Mansfield Township is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Iron County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 38 other monitored lakes in Iron County, Ellen Lake South Central Basin; Mansfield Township ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-08-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Ellen Lake South Central Basin; Mansfield Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 17 ft down. Chlorophyll-a: 2.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.8 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Ellen Lake South Central Basin; Mansfield Township
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Top-rated places to stay near Ellen Lake South Central Basin; Mansfield Township
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Fishing Ellen Lake South Central Basin; Mansfield Township
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.327 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Water Temperature
Ellen Lake South Central Basin; Mansfield Township averages about 51°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 53°F) and coldest in Jun (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 167 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Ellen Lake South Central Basin; Mansfield Township water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 39 lakes in Iron County
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Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-08-24
Monitoring stations: 1