Lake View
Benzie County, Michigan55 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #14 of 21 in the county
- Limited data
Lake View in Benzie County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 18 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.6 µg/L. Surface area: 55 acres.
- Clarity
- 18 ft
- Typical in September
- 56°F
- Area
- 55 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 9 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 2.6 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Stays near Lake View
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Watch Lake View’s letter
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Lake View is a 55-acre mesotrophic lake in Benzie County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Benzie County, Lake View ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake View is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water18 ft of visibility
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 A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake View is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Crystal clear, you can see 18 ft down. Phosphorus 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.6 µg/L. TSI 37. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 18 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Lake View typically sits around 56°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 54°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 56°F) and coldest in May (about 48°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 221 field readings (2019–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake View water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 55 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake View, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lake View
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.56 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.33 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.07 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lake View 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 MI040601040202-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.53 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 21 lakes in Benzie County
Nearby Lakes in Benzie County
Frequently asked questions about Lake View
Where is Lake View?
- Lake View is a lake in Benzie County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake View?
- Lake View in Benzie County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 18 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.6 µg/L. Surface area: 55 acres.
Is Lake View safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake View is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake View?
- Lake View typically sits around 56°F at the surface in September, from 221 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Lake View across LakeQuality
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Planning a trip around Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Lake View is about 16 miles from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes →More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS16 samples · 2022
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.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database