Ransom Lake
Benzie County, Michigan18 acresView mapDirections
EGLE publishes the water-quality measurements for Ransom Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Limited data
Ransom Lake in Benzie County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 15 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.5 µg/L. Surface area: 17.5 acres.
Ransom Lake is a 18-acre mesotrophic lake in Benzie County, Michigan. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Benzie County, Ransom Lake ranks #19 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-19. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Ransom Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water15 ft of visibility
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Ransom Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Ransom Lake
These are the measurements EGLE publishes for Ransom Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 15 ft down. Phosphorus 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.5 µg/L. TSI 38.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 15ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 10µg/L | Measured, not scored The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 2.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 38 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Ransom Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Ransom Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 57°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 58°F) and coldest in May (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (52°F) to its warmest (58°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 81 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Ransom Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
Surface area
18 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by EGLE
No bathymetric survey has been published for Ransom Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Ransom Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ransom Lake in Benzie 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 Ransom Lake
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Follow Ransom Lake’s readings
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Fishing Ransom Lake
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 8 years of monitoring (2016–2023).
Water clarity
Improving8 years
Phosphorus
Stable+0.11 µg/L/yr7 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.07 µg/L/yr7 years
Nearby Lakes in Benzie County
Frequently asked questions about Ransom Lake
Where is Ransom Lake?
- Ransom Lake is a lake in Benzie County, Michigan. Its water-quality measurements are published by EGLE and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Ransom Lake?
- Ransom Lake in Benzie County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 15 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.5 µg/L. Surface area: 17.5 acres.
Is Ransom Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Ransom Lake?
- Ransom Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in September, from 81 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Can I fish at Ransom Lake?
- Public access to Ransom Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Michigan's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Ransom Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Benzie County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its readings
Michigan's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
Planning a trip around Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Ransom Lake is about 18 miles from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes →More lakes in Michigan
Other Lakes in Michigan
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
17 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS17 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.