Spring Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Emmet County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including Blackchin shiner, Blacknose shiner, and Bluegill. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Emmet County, Spring Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-02-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 3.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 32.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 3.2 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.9 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 32 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay 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.
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Spring Lake
Water Temperature
Spring Lake averages about 74°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Feb (about 38°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
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 →
Location & Depth Map
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 10 lakes in Emmet County
Nearby Lakes in Emmet County
Explore Spring Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Spring Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601050606-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.12 km)
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-02-08
Monitoring stations: 2