Shell Lake
Leelanau County, Michigan102 acresView mapDirections
EGLE publishes the water-quality measurements for Shell Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 12 ft max depth
Shell Lake in Leelanau County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 102.1 acres.
Free interactive depth-contour map of Shell Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 12 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Shell Lake is a 102-acre mesotrophic lake in Leelanau County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 12 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Leelanau County, Shell Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2024-09-03. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Shell Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.4 ft of visibility
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Shell Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Shell Lake
These are the measurements EGLE publishes for Shell Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.4 ft. Phosphorus 10.7 µg/L. TSI 40.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 11.4ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 10.7µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 40 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Shell Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Shell Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Sep (about 70°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (70°F) to its warmest (78°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 390 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Shell Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
Max depth
12 ft
Surface area
102 acres
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
1.8 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
574 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Shell Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shell Lake in Leelanau 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 Shell Lake
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
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Fishing Shell Lake
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 9 years of monitoring (2016–2024).
Water clarity
Worsening9 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+1.22 µg/L/yr5 years
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Shell Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Good Harbor Bay-Nuisance AnimalAnn Arbor · 4.5 mi away · NPDES MI0060268
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.
Nearby Lakes in Leelanau County
Frequently asked questions about Shell Lake
Where is Shell Lake?
- Shell Lake is a lake in Leelanau County, Michigan. Its water-quality measurements are published by EGLE and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Shell Lake?
- Shell Lake in Leelanau County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 102.1 acres.
Is Shell Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Shell Lake?
- Shell Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in September, from 390 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Shell Lake?
- Shell Lake has a maximum depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 102.1 acres.
Explore Shell Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Leelanau County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its readings
Michigan's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
Planning a trip around Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Shell Lake is about 6 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 lakes in Michigan
Other Lakes in Michigan
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
38 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- National Park Service Water Resources Division
11NPSWRD_WQX38 samples · 2016–2024
Analytical methods
- Secchi Disk
- Alkaline Persulfate Digestion for Total N and P in Water
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)