Loon Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Benzie County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including Black bullhead, Blackchin shiner, and Bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Benzie County, Loon Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2024-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 12.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.1 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Loon Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Loon Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.059 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.52 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Loon Lake averages about 59°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 60°F) and coldest in Jun (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,043 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Loon Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 35 lakes in Benzie County
Nearby Lakes in Benzie County
Explore Loon Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Benzie County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Leelanau County · Clarity: 12.7 ft
Leelanau County · Clarity: 15.5 ft
Leelanau County · Excellent
Manistee County · Clarity: 10.8 ft
Leelanau County · Clarity: 11.2 ft
Leelanau County · Clarity: 11.2 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Loon Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601040206-05 · Official waterbody report
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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: 2024-09-10
Monitoring stations: 1