Spring Lake
Emmet County, Michigan6 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Pathogens (E. coli, fecal)
- #2 of 4 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Spring Lake in Emmet County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Surface area: 6.1 acres.
- Typical in October
- 45°F
- Area
- 6 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 24 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 5.3 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Spring Lake’s letter
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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. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2022. 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Spring Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing15 species recorded
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria advisory
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. Spring Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.3 µg/L. TSI 48. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 24 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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.
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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Spring Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Spring Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.83 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.93 µg/L/yr | 3 |
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 4 lakes in Emmet County
Nearby Lakes in Emmet County
Frequently asked questions about Spring Lake
Where is Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake is a lake in Emmet County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake in Emmet County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Surface area: 6.1 acres.
Is Spring Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Spring Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal). 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.
Explore Spring Lake across LakeQuality
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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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)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)