Monocle Lake
Chippewa County, Michigan174 acresView mapDirections
Not Rated: one monitoring station are on record, but they measured water clarity only. LakeQuality’s A–F method grades total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity; clarity is shown, not scored.
- 55 ft max depth
- Limited data
Monocle Lake in Chippewa County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 173.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 16 ft
- Typical in September
- 65°F
- Max depth
- 55 ft
- Area
- 174 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Monocle Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Monocle Lake in Chippewa County, Michigan — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Monocle Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Watch Monocle Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Free interactive depth-contour map of Monocle Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 55 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Monocle Lake has no grade
Monocle Lake has monitoring on record from one station, but only water clarity was measured. LakeQuality’s A–F letter uses total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity against EPA National Lakes Assessment condition classes. With none of those grading measurements on record, Monocle Lake is Not Rated — not an F. Its 16-foot median from 2 readings collected 2021–2023 is still shown as clarity, but clarity alone cannot earn a letter.
Not Rated is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. 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.
Monocle Lake is a 174-acre lake in Chippewa County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 55 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including Brown bullhead, Johnny darter, and Lake herring.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Monocle Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water16 ft of visibility
- Fishing13 species recorded
- Camping1 public campground nearby
- Deep water55 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 Monocle Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 16 ft down. TSI 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Water Temperature
Monocle Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 68°F) and coldest in Feb (about 35°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 217 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Monocle Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft |
| Surface Area | 174 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Monocle Lake
- Monocle Lake Recreation Area0.3 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Monocle Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 10 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -4.9 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.11 µg/L/yr | 9 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.84 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Graded lakes near Monocle Lake
Monocle Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Chippewa County
Frequently asked questions about Monocle Lake
Where is Monocle Lake?
- Monocle Lake is a lake in Chippewa County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
What is the water quality grade for Monocle Lake?
- Monocle Lake in Chippewa County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 173.5 acres.
Is Monocle Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Monocle Lake?
- Monocle Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, from 217 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Monocle Lake?
- Monocle Lake has a maximum depth of 55 feet. The lake covers 173.5 acres.
What fish are in Monocle Lake?
- Fish species found in Monocle Lake include Brown bullhead, Johnny darter, Lake herring, Mimic shiner, Northern logperch, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Smallmouth bass, Spottail shiner, Walleye, White sucker, Yellow perch. Monocle Lake is located in Chippewa County, Michigan.
Are there campgrounds on Monocle Lake?
- Monocle Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Monocle Lake Recreation Area. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Monocle Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Chippewa County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Upper Peninsula area
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Lakes in Michigan
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
2 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Eastern Regional Office
USFSEASTERN2 samples · 2021–2023
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles