Round Lake
Emmet County, Michigan353 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.
- Impaired · Pathogens (E. coli, fecal)
- 12 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Round Lake in Emmet County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 9.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 353.2 acres.
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 12 ft
- Area
- 353 acres
- Phosphorus
- 9.8 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 3.1 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Round Lake’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Round Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 12 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Round 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 Round 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.
Round Lake is a 353-acre lake in Emmet County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 12 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Iowa darter and Largemouth bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2021-10-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Round Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Not ratedBacteria advisory
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Round Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Round Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 9.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.1 µg/L. TSI 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 9.8 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.1 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Water Temperature
Round Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Feb (about 41°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 15 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Round Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 353 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Round LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Round Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.83 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.93 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Round 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 MI040601050606-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.6 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Round Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Zequanox Application-Round LakePetoskey · 0.5 mi away · NPDES MI0060039
- Harbor SpringsHarbor Springs · 2.4 mi away · NPDES MIG960018
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Graded lakes near Round Lake
Round Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Emmet County
Frequently asked questions about Round Lake
Where is Round Lake?
- Round 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 Round Lake?
- Round Lake in Emmet County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 9.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 353.2 acres.
Is Round Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Round Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Round Lake?
- Round Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 15 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Round Lake?
- Round Lake has a maximum depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 353.2 acres.
What fish are in Round Lake?
- Fish species found in Round Lake include Iowa darter, Largemouth bass. Round Lake is located in Emmet County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Round Lake?
- Round Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Round Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Round Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
14 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2018–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
LTBBWATR_WQX14 samples · 2018–2021
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory