Round Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Benzie County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 37 documented fish species including Black bullhead, Black crappie, and Blackchin shiner. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Benzie County, Round Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2021-09-09. 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. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Round Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Round Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.45 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Round Lake averages about 71°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in Sep (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 57 field readings (2010–2011) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 35 lakes in Benzie County
Nearby Lakes in Benzie County
Explore Round 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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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Leelanau County · Clarity: 12.7 ft
Manistee County · Clarity: 10.8 ft
Leelanau County · Clarity: 15.5 ft
Leelanau County · Excellent
Leelanau County · Clarity: 11.2 ft
Leelanau County · Clarity: 11.2 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2021-09-09
Monitoring stations: 1