Tie Lake
Alger County, Michigan50 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #2 of 8 in the county
- 25 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Tie Lake in Alger County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 49.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.5 ft
- Typical in September
- 68°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 50 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Tie Lake’s letter
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Tie Lake is a 50-acre mesotrophic lake in Alger County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Alger County, Tie Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2021-09-06. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Tie Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13.5 ft of visibility
- Camping1 public campground nearby
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft. Phosphorus 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.9 µg/L. TSI 40. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 8 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Tie Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 71°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 83 field readings (2018–2018) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Tie Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 50 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Tie Lake
- Widewaters Recreation Area2.8 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Tie Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.276 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 8 lakes in Alger County
Nearby Lakes in Alger County
Frequently asked questions about Tie Lake
Where is Tie Lake?
- Tie Lake is a lake in Alger County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Tie Lake?
- Tie Lake in Alger County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 49.8 acres.
Is Tie Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Tie Lake?
- Tie Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, from 83 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2018). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Tie Lake?
- Tie Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 49.8 acres.
Are there campgrounds on Tie Lake?
- Tie Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Widewaters Recreation Area. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Tie Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Alger County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Planning a trip around Pictured Rocks?
Tie Lake is about 30 miles from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Pictured Rocks →More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
68 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2017–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS68 samples · 2017–2021
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles