Round Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Emmet County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Iowa darter and Largemouth bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Emmet County, Round Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2021-10-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Round Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 4.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 26.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 4.6 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 26 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Round Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Round Lake in Emmet 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 Round Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Round Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Round Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Round Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Round Lake averages about 75°F at the surface in summer, 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 →
Location & Depth Map
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 10 lakes in Emmet County
Nearby Lakes in Emmet County
Explore Round Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Emmet County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Grand Traverse Region area
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
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)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2021-10-07
Monitoring stations: 1