South Bar Lake
Leelanau County, Michigan78 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 12 in the county
- 13 ft max depth
South Bar Lake in Leelanau County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 77.7 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.5 ft
- Max depth
- 13 ft
- Area
- 78 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 14 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 3.8 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Watch South Bar Lake’s letter
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South Bar Lake is a 78-acre mesotrophic lake in Leelanau County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 13 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Leelanau County, South Bar Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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 A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.5 ft. Phosphorus 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.8 µg/L. TSI 44. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 13 ft |
| Surface Area | 78 acres |
Fishing South Bar Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.27 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.95 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.71 µg/L/yr | 4 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 12 lakes in Leelanau County
Nearby Lakes in Leelanau County
Frequently asked questions about South Bar Lake
Where is South Bar Lake?
- South Bar Lake is a lake in Leelanau County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for South Bar Lake?
- South Bar Lake in Leelanau County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 77.7 acres.
Is South Bar Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is South Bar Lake?
- South Bar Lake has a maximum depth of 13 feet. The lake covers 77.7 acres.
Explore South Bar Lake across LakeQuality
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Planning a trip around Sleeping Bear Dunes?
South Bar Lake is about 8 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 A Lakes in Michigan
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
156 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS156 samples · 2016–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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.