Ransom Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Benzie County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Benzie County, Ransom Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-19. 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 15 ft down. Chlorophyll-a: 2.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.5 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Ransom Lake
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Fishing Ransom Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.612 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.3 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Ransom Lake averages about 57°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 58°F) and coldest in May (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
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 →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 35 lakes in Benzie County
Nearby Lakes in Benzie County
Explore Ransom Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 15 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 15 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 23.8 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 24 ft
Leelanau County · Clarity: 15.8 ft
Leelanau County · Clarity: 11.2 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Ransom Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601040202-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.95 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2023-09-19
Monitoring stations: 1