Oneal Lake
Emmet County, Michigan138 acresView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- 22 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Oneal Lake in Emmet County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L. Surface area: 138 acres.
- Max depth
- ~22 ft est.
- Area
- 138 acres
- Phosphorus
- 24 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 2.2 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Oneal Lake’s letter
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Why Oneal 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 Oneal Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a), but not water clarity.
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.
Oneal Lake is a 138-acre lake in Emmet County, Michigan with an estimated average depth of about 22 feet. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-02-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Oneal Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.2 µg/L. TSI 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 24 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.2 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~22 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~10 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 138 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Michigan has not published bathymetry for Oneal Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Oneal Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Oneal Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the O'Neal Lake Dam (completed 1954), built primarily for recreation on the Big Sucker Creek; earth-type dam, 10 ft tall and 160 ft long.
- Surface area
- 138 ac
- Normal storage
- 500 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,250 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 8.1 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MDNR Parks & Recreation
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00033 · Operator website
Graded lakes near Oneal Lake
Oneal Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Emmet County
Frequently asked questions about Oneal Lake
Where is Oneal Lake?
- Oneal Lake is a lake in Emmet 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 Oneal Lake?
- Oneal Lake in Emmet County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L. Surface area: 138 acres.
Is Oneal Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Oneal Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Oneal Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 22 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 138 acres.
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Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2018–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
LTBBWATR_WQX12 samples · 2018–2022
Analytical methods
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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)