The State of Michigan's Lakes 2026

Cleanest lakes in Michigan

Cleanest combined nutrient and algae readings, 2026.

1. 1.Crystal Lake — Montcalm County10.0 ft clarity · 9 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
2. 2.Ore Lake — Livingston County9.0 ft clarity · 22 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
3. 3.South Bar Lake — Leelanau County8.5 ft clarity · 14 µg/L P · 4 µg/L chl-a
4. 4.Eagle Lake — Kalkaska County18.0 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 1 µg/L chl-a
5. 5.Ellen Lake — Iron County17.3 ft clarity · 8 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
6. 6.Brooks Lake — Leelanau County9.5 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
7. 7.Indian Lake — Kalamazoo County9.5 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
8. 8.Round Lake — Mecosta County9.0 ft clarity · 17 µg/L P · 7 µg/L chl-a
9. 9.Mecosta Lake — Mecosta County9.5 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
10. 10.Perch Lake — Iron County6.0 ft clarity · 24 µg/L P · 5 µg/L chl-a

Highest measured algae

Highest measured chlorophyll-a (algae) concentration.

1. 1.Community College Pond — Chippewa County37 µg/L chlorophyll-a
2. 2.South Pond — Chippewa County25 µg/L chlorophyll-a
3. 3.Palmer Lake — St. Joseph County21 µg/L chlorophyll-a
4. 4.Lake Diane — Hillsdale County20 µg/L chlorophyll-a

Trending lakes

Improving

1. 1.Ore Lake — Livingston County
2. 2.Lake Twenty (Aka — Gladwin County
3. 3.Duncan Lake — Barry County
4. 4.Glacier Lake — Washtenaw County
5. 5.Ellen Lake — Iron County
6. 6.Lancer Lake Southeast — Gladwin County
7. 7.Derby Lake — Montcalm County
8. 8.Horsehead Lake — Mecosta County

Declining

1. 1.Lake Diane — Hillsdale County
2. 2.Round Lake — Shiawassee County
3. 3.Boot Lake — Kalamazoo County
4. 4.Gage Lake — Cass County
5. 5.Sassafras Lake — Van Buren County
6. 6.Rodgers Lake — Cass County
7. 7.Manitou Lake — Shiawassee County
8. 8.Portage Lake — St. Joseph County