Little Long Lake
Barry County, Michigan168 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #5 of 7 in the county
- 30 ft max depth
- Public access
Little Long Lake in Barry County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 168.1 acres.
- Clarity
- 13 ft
- Typical in September
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 168 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 10 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 2.2 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Little Long Lake’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Little Long Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 30 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Little Long Lake is a 168-acre mesotrophic lake in Barry County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 30 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Rainbow smelt. Public access is available. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Barry County, Little Long Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Little Long Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13 ft of visibility
- Deep water30 ft surveyed max depth
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 13 ft. Phosphorus 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.2 µg/L. TSI 39. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Little Long Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 73°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 899 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Long Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 168 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Long Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.152 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.87 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.26 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Little Long Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Hickory Gables-CafoHickory Corners · 1 mi away · NPDES MI0058276
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 #5 of 7 lakes in Barry County
Nearby Lakes in Barry County
Frequently asked questions about Little Long Lake
Where is Little Long Lake?
- Little Long Lake is a lake in Barry County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Little Long Lake?
- Little Long Lake in Barry County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 168.1 acres.
Is Little Long Lake 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 Little Long Lake?
- Little Long Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September, from 899 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Long Lake?
- Little Long Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 168.1 acres.
What fish are in Little Long Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Long Lake include Rainbow smelt. Little Long Lake is located in Barry County, Michigan.
Explore Little Long Lake across LakeQuality
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
153 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_MICORPS153 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)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)