Walloon Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Emmet County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 20 documented fish species including Black crappie, Blacknose shiner, and Bluegill. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Emmet County, Walloon Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-02-17. 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: 3.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 22.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 3.4 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 22 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Walloon Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Walloon Lake
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 10 lakes in Emmet County
Nearby Lakes in Emmet County
Explore Walloon Lake across LakeGrade
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Walloon 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 MI040601050102-02 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Walloon Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Manthei-PetoskeyPetoskey · 3.4 mi away · NPDES MI0046957Recent violation
- Petoskey PlasticsPetoskey · 3.7 mi away · NPDES MIG250469Recent violation
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)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-02-17
Monitoring stations: 3