North Blue Lake
North Blue Lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 19 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 78 ft. Surface area: 53.4 acres.
- Clarity
- 19 ft
- Max depth
- 78 ft
- Area
- 53 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Next lake in Kalkaska County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
Why North Blue Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For North Blue Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. 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.
North Blue Lake is a 53-acre lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 78 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including Bluntnose minnow, Iowa darter, and Lake herring.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2019-09-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch North Blue Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for North Blue Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 19 ft down. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 19 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near North Blue Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Blue Lake in Kalkaska 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 North Blue Lake
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 78 ft |
| Surface Area | 53 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing North Blue Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.755 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.36 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.03 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Graded lakes near North Blue Lake
North Blue Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Kalkaska County
Frequently asked questions about North Blue Lake
Where is North Blue Lake?
- North Blue Lake is a lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for North Blue Lake?
- North Blue Lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 19 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 78 ft. Surface area: 53.4 acres.
Is North Blue Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. North Blue Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is North Blue Lake?
- North Blue Lake has a maximum depth of 78 feet. The lake covers 53.4 acres.
What fish are in North Blue Lake?
- Fish species found in North Blue Lake include Bluntnose minnow, Iowa darter, Lake herring, Lake trout, Largemouth bass, Rainbow trout, White sucker, Yellow perch. North Blue Lake is located in Kalkaska County, Michigan.
Explore North Blue Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Kalkaska County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Grand Traverse Region 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
24 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2019. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS24 samples · 2016–2019
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)