Little Traverse Bay Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Emmet County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Emmet County, Little Traverse Bay Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2024-10-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 5.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 28.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 5.1 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 28 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Little Traverse Bay Lake
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Fishing Little Traverse Bay Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Little Traverse Bay Lake averages about 56°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Oct (about 57°F) and coldest in May (about 41°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 45 field readings (2015–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Traverse Bay Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 10 lakes in Emmet County
Nearby Lakes in Emmet County
Explore Little Traverse Bay Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Emmet County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Little Traverse Bay Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Petoskey WwtpPetoskey · 1.4 mi away · NPDES MI0023787MajorRecent violation
- Petrolane SitePetoskey · 0.9 mi away · NPDES MIG080917
- Mclaughlin CoPetoskey · 2.2 mi away · NPDES MIG250397
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2024-10-24
Monitoring stations: 2