Lime Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Benzie County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, and Brown bullhead. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Benzie County, Lime Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-22. 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 17.5 ft down. Chlorophyll-a: 1.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17.5 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.3 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Lime Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lime Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +5.65 m/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Water Temperature
Lime Lake averages about 65°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 68°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 80 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lime Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Lime Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 25 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 35 lakes in Benzie County
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-22
Monitoring stations: 1