Shell Lake
Leelanau County, Michigan102 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #11 of 12 in the county
- 12 ft max depth
Shell Lake in Leelanau County, Michigan has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 11.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 102.1 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.4 ft
- Typical in September
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 12 ft
- Area
- 102 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 10.7 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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
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Watch Shell Lake’s letter
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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. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2024. 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Shell Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.4 ft of visibility
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.4 ft. Phosphorus 10.7 µg/L. TSI 40. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10.7 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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.
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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 102 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Shell Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 9 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.114 m/yr | 9 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.22 µg/L/yr | 5 |
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 12 lakes in Leelanau County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Shell Lake holds Grade B. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Leelanau County
Frequently asked questions about Shell Lake
Where is Shell Lake?
- Shell Lake is a lake in Leelanau County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Shell Lake?
- Shell Lake in Leelanau County, Michigan has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- The B is nutrients and algae, 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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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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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 Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade B 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)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)