Susan Lake
Charlevoix County, Michigan126 acresView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- 38 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Susan Lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.3 µg/L. Surface area: 125.6 acres.
- Typical in October
- 58°F
- Max depth
- ~38 ft est.
- Area
- 126 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Susan Lake’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Susan Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 15 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Susan Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Susan Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a), but not water clarity.
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Susan Lake is a 126-acre lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan with an estimated average depth of about 38 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2021-10-14. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Susan Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing12 species recorded
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Susan Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.3 µg/L. TSI 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 9.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.3 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Water Temperature
Susan Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Feb (about 39°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2015–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Susan Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~38 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~14 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 126 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Michigan has not published bathymetry for Susan Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Seibert Nature PreservePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Susan Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.55 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Susan Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Ceco-Big Rock Point PltCharlevoix · 2.5 mi away · NPDES MI0001431
- Mdeq-Rrd-Former Dme FacilityCharlevoix · 4 mi away · NPDES MI0059353
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.
Graded lakes near Susan Lake
Susan Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Charlevoix County
Frequently asked questions about Susan Lake
Where is Susan Lake?
- Susan Lake is a lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
What is the water quality grade for Susan Lake?
- Susan Lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.3 µg/L. Surface area: 125.6 acres.
Is Susan Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Susan Lake?
- Susan Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2015–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Susan Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Susan Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 38 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 125.6 acres.
What fish are in Susan Lake?
- Fish species found in Susan Lake include Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Central mudminnow, Common shiner, Iowa darter, Largemouth bass, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Western banded killifish, Yellow perch. Susan Lake is located in Charlevoix County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Susan Lake?
- Susan Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Seibert Nature Preserve. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Susan Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
11 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2019–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
LTBBWATR_WQX11 samples · 2019–2021
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 (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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory