Spectacle Lake
Chippewa County, Michigan84 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #4 of 6 in the county
- 5 ft max depth
Spectacle Lake in Chippewa County, Michigan has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 84.4 acres.
- Typical in September
- 63°F
- Max depth
- 5 ft
- Area
- 84 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 29 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 9.8 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Watch Spectacle Lake’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Spectacle Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 5 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Spectacle Lake is a 84-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Chippewa County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 5 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Chippewa County, Spectacle Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2025-10-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Spectacle Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 5 samples across 3 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Michigan’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 9.8 µg/L. TSI 53. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 29 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.8 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Spectacle Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 71°F) and coldest in Feb (about 35°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 175 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Spectacle Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 5 ft |
| Surface Area | 84 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Spectacle Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 10 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.431 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.76 µg/L/yr | 9 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +27.24 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 6 lakes in Chippewa County
Nearby Lakes in Chippewa County
Frequently asked questions about Spectacle Lake
Where is Spectacle Lake?
- Spectacle Lake is a lake in Chippewa County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Spectacle Lake?
- Spectacle Lake in Chippewa County, Michigan has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 84.4 acres.
Is Spectacle Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Spectacle Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 5 samples across 3 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Spectacle Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Michigan's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Spectacle Lake?
- Spectacle Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in September, from 175 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Spectacle Lake?
- Spectacle Lake has a maximum depth of 5 feet. The lake covers 84.4 acres.
Explore Spectacle Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
125 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Bay Mills Indian Community, Michigan (Tribal)
BMIC_WQX125 samples · 2016–2025
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)