Description:
Ellsworth Lake is located in the upper Elk River Chain of Lakes. It is fed by the Intermediate River from St. Clair Lake on the north (upstream) end, and empties through the Intermediate River into Wilson Lake at its southern (downstream) terminus. The town of Ellsworth, including the famous Wooden Shoe Park, is located on the north end of the lake.
While on Ellsworth Lake, take a look at the shale pits dug into the hills on each side. There you will see the layers of soil that reveal the surficial geology of the area. The reddish soil toward the top is glacial till, covering a green-gray layer of older Ellsworth shale.
Ellsworth Lake is popular with anglers; fish species reported include black, yellow, and brown bullhead; longnose gar; longear sunfish; white sucker; bluegill, yellow perch, northern pike, black crappie, small- and largemouth bass; rock bass; pumpkinseed; and walleye.
Monitoring and Research:
Ellsworth 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 Ellsworth Lake each summer by volunteers as part of the Watershed Council’s Volunteer Lake Monitoring (VLM) Program.
The Elk River Chain of Lakes Watershed Plan Implementation Team meets regularly and is working to protect the lakes in the Chain.
Additional Resources:
Shoreline Survey:
Elk River Chain of Lakes Shoreline Survey
Project Summary During the summers of 2016 and 2017, the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council led a coordinated effort to conduct a shoreline survey for 15 Lakes in the Elk River Chain of Lakes Watershed. The surveys were meant to document conditions that could impact water quality, including the
