Loon Lake; Lake Twp is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Benzie County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including Black bullhead, Blackchin shiner, and Bluegill. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Benzie County, Loon Lake; Lake Twp ranks #18 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Loon Lake; Lake Twp water quality
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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 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 2.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.1 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Loon Lake; Lake Twp
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Loon Lake; Lake Twp
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 |
Water Temperature
Loon Lake; Lake Twp averages about 57°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 59°F) and coldest in May (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 148 field readings (2013–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Loon Lake; Lake Twp water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #18 of 35 lakes in Benzie County
Nearby 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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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
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Loon Lake; Lake Twp 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 · Matched by proximity (0.16 km)
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
Most recent sample: 2022-09-10
Monitoring stations: 1