Lime Lake
Leelanau County, Michigan662 acresView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- 67 ft max depth
- Limited data
Lime Lake in Leelanau County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 67 ft. Surface area: 661.7 acres.
- Clarity
- 13 ft
- Max depth
- 67 ft
- Area
- 662 acres
- Phosphorus
- 5 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Stays near Lime Lake
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Watch Lime Lake’s letter
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Why Lime Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Lime Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity and phosphorus, but not algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Lime Lake is a 662-acre lake in Leelanau County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 67 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-04. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lime Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13 ft of visibility
- Deep water67 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Lime Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Phosphorus 5 µg/L. TSI 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 67 ft |
| Surface Area | 662 acres |
Fishing Lime Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +4.01 m/yr | 2 |
Graded lakes near Lime Lake
Lime Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Leelanau County
Frequently asked questions about Lime Lake
Where is Lime Lake?
- Lime Lake is a lake in Leelanau County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Lime Lake?
- Lime Lake in Leelanau County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 67 ft. Surface area: 661.7 acres.
Is Lime Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lime Lake?
- Lime Lake has a maximum depth of 67 feet. The lake covers 661.7 acres.
Explore Lime Lake across LakeQuality
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Planning a trip around Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Lime Lake is about 9 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
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Where this data comes from
13 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS13 samples · 2021–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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.