Ransom Lake
Benzie County, Michigan18 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #19 of 21 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Ransom Lake in Benzie County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 15 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.5 µg/L. Surface area: 17.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 15 ft
- Typical in September
- 57°F
- Area
- 18 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 10 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 2.5 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Ransom Lake
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Watch Ransom Lake’s letter
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Ransom Lake is a 18-acre mesotrophic lake in Benzie County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2023. 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Ransom Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water15 ft of visibility
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Ransom Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Crystal clear, you can see 15 ft down. Phosphorus 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.5 µg/L. TSI 38. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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.
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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Ransom Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Ransom Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 8 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.259 m/yr | 8 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.11 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.07 µg/L/yr | 7 |
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)
County Ranking
Ranked #19 of 21 lakes in Benzie County
Nearby Lakes in Benzie County
Frequently asked questions about Ransom Lake
Where is Ransom Lake?
- Ransom Lake is a lake in Benzie County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Ransom Lake?
- Ransom Lake in Benzie County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Ransom Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, oxygen depletion (low DO). 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.
Explore Ransom Lake across LakeQuality
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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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 Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A 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)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database