Monocle Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Chippewa County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including Brown bullhead, Johnny darter, and Lake herring. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Chippewa County, Monocle Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 16 ft down. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay 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.
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Monocle Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -4.9 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.32 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Water Temperature
Monocle Lake averages about 65°F at the surface in summer, 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 →
Location & Depth Map
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 18 lakes in Chippewa County
Nearby Lakes in Chippewa County
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-18
Monitoring stations: 1