Bass Lake

Protecting Northern Michigan's Water Resources

Bass Lake is situated on the north side of the Village of Elk Rapids, between Elk Lake and Grand Traverse Bay. Being adjacent to the City of Elk Rapids, the southern half of Bass Lake is more heavily developed and impacted by removal of shoreline vegetation (greenbelt loss), hardened shorelines (e.g., seawalls, riprap), and urban stormwater runoff. The northern half of the lake is more intact with vegetated areas in and among the cottages.

144 acres

OF SURFACE AREA

2 miles

OF SHORELINE

24 feet

MAX DEPTH

Overview of Bass Lake

Watershed

Grand Traverse Bay Watershed

Primary Inflows

Groundwater

Headwaters

Primary Outflows

Surface Area

144 acres

Shoreline

2 miles

Maximum Depth

24 feet

Known Aquatic Invasive Species

Monitoring and Research:

Bass Lake is monitored every three years through the Watershed Council’s Comprehensive Water Quality Monitoring (CWQM) Program for dissolved oxygen, specific conductivity, pH, nitrate-nitrogen, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chloride levels.

Water transparency, chlorophyll-a, and water temperature are also monitored in Bass Lake each summer by volunteers as part of the Watershed Council’s Volunteer Lake Monitoring (VLM) Program.

Additional Resources:

Aquatic Plant Survey of Bass Lake (1992) – hard copy

Title	Categories	Link	hf:doc_categories
The Gem Lakes of Northern Michigan	Bass Lake	Download	bass-lake inland-lakes
2022 Bass Lake Shoreline Survey	Bass Lake, Shoreline Surveys	Download	bass-lake shoreline-surveys inland-lakes
2010 Small Gem Lakes Profile	Bass Lake, Birch Lake, Deer Lake, Huffman Lake, Larks Lake, Long Lake, Marion Lake, Nowland Lake, Silver Lake, Susan Lake, Thumb Lake, Twin Lake, Wildwood Lake	Download	bass-lake birch-lake deer-lake huffman-lake larks-lake long-lake marion-lake nowland-lake silver-lake susan-lake thumb-lake twin-lake wildwood-lake inland-lakes

Welcome to the 2022 Shoreline Survey of Bass Lake. The results of the survey can be found here.

First, find your unique ID on the upper right corner of the shoreline survey letter mailed to your property. Next, enter your unique ID in the box on the left under “Unique ID number–Type in your unique ID.”

Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council conducted a 2022 Shoreline Survey of Bass Lake with funding from a Special Assessment District of the Township of Elk Rapids. The Watershed Council circumnavigated the entire Bass Lake shoreline on kayaks to document signs of nutrient pollution (algal growth), habitat loss, and shoreline erosion.

Make a lasting impact on the future of our fresh waters

Are you with us?

Made Possible By Our Partners & Donors

Every dollar invested in Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council helps leverage government and foundation grants for much needed local water quality monitoring and pollution prevention, invasive species management, shoreline restoration, education, and much more.

The Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information herein; however, it cannot be guaranteed.

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