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LakeQuality

Gun Lake

Mason County, Michigan232 acresView mapDirections

A
Excellent

Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.

Water temp
~72°F
Typical for Sep · EPA WQP
Clarity
14 ft
Secchi · sampled 2021
Level
No reading
No gauge
Trend
No reading
Not enough history
  • Mesotrophic
  • #1 of 4 in the county
  • 22 ft max depth
  • Public access
  • Limited data

Gun Lake in Mason County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 232.1 acres.

Clarity
14 ft
Typical in September
72°F
Max depth
22 ft
Area
232 acres
Type
Mesotrophic
Public access
Yes
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Gun Lake is a 232-acre mesotrophic lake in Mason County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 22 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Blackchin shiner, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow. Public access is available. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Mason County, Gun Lake ranks #1 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2021-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.

What Gun Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

  • Clear water14 ft of visibility
  • Fishing6 species recorded

Swimming Safety

Grade only

Limited 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.

The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.

Compare the safest swimming lakes near Traverse City

Get alerts for Gun Lake

Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)

Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Phosphorus 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.2 µg/L. TSI 38. The letter is not a swimming clearance.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)14 ftNot graded
Phosphorus9 µg/LNot graded
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)2.2 µg/LGood
Trophic State Index (TSI)38Mesotrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Water Temperature

Gun Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 76°F) and coldest in Jun (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
70°
Jun
66°
Jul
74°
Aug
76°
Sep
72°
Oct
Nov
Dec

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 63 field readings (20212021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Gun Lake water temperature breakdown →

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth22 ft
Surface Area232 acres
Public AccessYes

Fish Species

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

Fishing Gun Lake

County Ranking

Ranked #1 of 4 lakes in Mason County

Nearby Lakes in Mason County

Frequently asked questions about Gun Lake

Where is Gun Lake?

Gun Lake is a lake in Mason County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.

What is the water quality grade for Gun Lake?

Gun Lake in Mason County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 232.1 acres.

Is Gun Lake safe to swim in?

The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.

What is the water temperature of Gun Lake?

Gun Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September, from 63 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

How deep is Gun Lake?

Gun Lake has a maximum depth of 22 feet. The lake covers 232.1 acres.

What fish are in Gun Lake?

Fish species found in Gun Lake include Blackchin shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Creek chub, Western banded killifish, Yellow perch. Gun Lake is located in Mason County, Michigan.

Where this data comes from

15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.

Collected and reported by

  • Michigan EGLE - MiCorps21MICH_MICORPS15 samples · 2021

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.