Lancer Lake Southeast
Gladwin County, MichiganView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Oligotrophic
- #3 of 5 in the county
Lancer Lake Southeast in Gladwin County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Typical in September
- 70°F
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 18 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 1.5 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Watch Lancer Lake Southeast’s letter
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Lancer Lake Southeast is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Gladwin County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Gladwin County, Lancer Lake Southeast ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-08. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lancer Lake Southeast is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Phosphorus 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.5 µg/L. TSI 41. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Water Temperature
Lancer Lake Southeast typically sits around 70°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 73°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 524 field readings (2013–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lancer Lake Southeast water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Lake Lancer - 2Semi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lancer Lake Southeast
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.058 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.31 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.06 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Lancer Lake Southeast under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Butman Twp WwtpGladwin · 0.8 mi away · NPDES MI0027898Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 5 lakes in Gladwin County
Nearby Lakes in Gladwin County
Frequently asked questions about Lancer Lake Southeast
Where is Lancer Lake Southeast?
- Lancer Lake Southeast is a lake in Gladwin County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lancer Lake Southeast?
- Lancer Lake Southeast in Gladwin County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.5 µg/L.
Is Lancer Lake Southeast 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 Lancer Lake Southeast?
- Lancer Lake Southeast typically sits around 70°F at the surface in September, from 524 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2013–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Lancer Lake Southeast?
- Lancer Lake Southeast has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Lancer - 2.
Explore Lancer Lake Southeast across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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Where this data comes from
105 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS105 samples · 2016–2023
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory