Lake Charlevoix
Charlevoix County, Michigan17,256 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #3 of 3 in the county
- 122 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake Charlevoix in Charlevoix County, Michigan has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 122 ft. Surface area: 17255.9 acres.
- Typical in October
- 59°F
- Max depth
- 122 ft
- Area
- 17,256 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 31 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 3.4 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Lake Charlevoix, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 122 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Lake Charlevoix is a 17,256-acre mesotrophic lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 122 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Lake whitefish, Rainbow smelt, and Round whitefish. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Charlevoix County, Lake Charlevoix ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2020-10-20. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Charlevoix is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing3 species recorded
- Deep water122 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water17,256 acres
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.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake Charlevoix is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.4 µg/L. TSI 48. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 31 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Lake Charlevoix typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 69°F) and coldest in Feb (about 34°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 56 field readings (2015–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Charlevoix water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 122 ft |
| Surface Area | 17,256 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Whiting ParkPublic
- IrontonPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Charlevoix
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Charlevoix is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601050207-01 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Charlevoix County
Nearby Lakes in Charlevoix County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Charlevoix
Where is Lake Charlevoix?
- Lake Charlevoix is a lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Charlevoix?
- Lake Charlevoix in Charlevoix County, Michigan has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 122 ft. Surface area: 17255.9 acres.
Is Lake Charlevoix safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake Charlevoix is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Charlevoix?
- Lake Charlevoix typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October, from 56 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2015–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lake Charlevoix?
- Lake Charlevoix has a maximum depth of 122 feet. The lake covers 17255.9 acres.
What fish are in Lake Charlevoix?
- Fish species found in Lake Charlevoix include Lake whitefish, Rainbow smelt, Round whitefish. Lake Charlevoix is located in Charlevoix County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Charlevoix?
- Lake Charlevoix has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Whiting Park, Ironton. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Charlevoix across LakeQuality
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
30 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2017–2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
LTBBWATR_WQX30 samples · 2017–2020
Analytical methods
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory