Spring Lake
Emmet County, Michigan6 acresView mapDirections
EGLE publishes the water-quality measurements for Spring Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Limited data
Spring Lake in Emmet County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Surface area: 6.1 acres.
Free interactive depth-contour map of Spring Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 9 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Spring Lake is a 6-acre mesotrophic lake in Emmet County, Michigan. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including Blackchin shiner, Blacknose shiner, and Bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Emmet County, Spring Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-02-08. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Spring Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing15 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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 Spring 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 Spring Lake
These are the measurements EGLE publishes for Spring Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.3 µg/L. TSI 48.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 24µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 5.3µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 48 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Spring Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Spring Lake typically sits around 45°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Feb (about 38°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (38°F) to its warmest (74°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2018–2020) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Spring Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
Surface area
6 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by EGLE
No bathymetric survey has been published for Spring Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Spring Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Spring 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 Spring Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Spring Lake
Water quality readings over time
3 seasons of samples on record (2018–2021). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Phosphorus
Improving-1.83 µg/L/yr3 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-2.93 µg/L/yr3 years
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Spring Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Erickson Petroleum CoPetoskey · 1 mi away · NPDES MIG080307
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 Emmet County
Frequently asked questions about Spring Lake
Where is Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake is a lake in Emmet County, Michigan. Its water-quality measurements are published by EGLE and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake in Emmet County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Surface area: 6.1 acres.
Is Spring 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 Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake typically sits around 45°F at the surface in October, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2020). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
What fish are in Spring Lake?
- Fish species found in Spring Lake include Blackchin shiner, Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Central mudminnow, Golden shiner, Iowa darter, Johnny darter, Largemouth bass, Northern longear sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Sand shiner, Yellow bullhead, Yellow perch. Spring Lake is located in Emmet County, Michigan.
Can I fish at Spring Lake?
- Public access to Spring Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Michigan's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Spring Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
25 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2018–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
LTBBWATR_WQX25 samples · 2018–2022
Analytical methods
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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)