Lake Margrethe is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Crawford County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 21 documented fish species including Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, and Brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Crawford County, Lake Margrethe ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2021-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 16 ft down. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Lake Margrethe
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Margrethe
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.28 m/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 6 lakes in Crawford County
Nearby Lakes in Crawford County
Explore Lake Margrethe across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Crawford County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Roscommon County · Clarity: 34.5 ft
Kalkaska County · Clarity: 36.5 ft
Kalkaska County · Clarity: 33 ft
Kalkaska County · Clarity: 19 ft
Kalkaska County · Clarity: 19.5 ft
Kalkaska County · Clarity: 18.5 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Margrethe 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 MI040601030104-04 · Official waterbody report
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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: 2021-09-17
Monitoring stations: 1