Torch Lake
Watershed: Elk River Watershed
Primary Inflows: Clam River, Eastport Creek
Primary Outflows: Torch River
Surface Area: 18473 acres
Shoreline: 41 miles
Maximum Depth: 302 feet
Public Access Sites: 48
Description:
Torch Lake is one of the most extraordinary lakes in Michigan. Its surface area is second largest in Michigan, but its great depth (about 300 feet, depending on the map) gives it by far the greatest depth and water volume of any inland lake in the state. As a result, Torch Lake has the longest flushing rate of any lake in the Elk River Chain of Lakes. Often, it does not freeze because of the large amount of heat stored in its vast volume. It is also Michigan’s longest inland lake. With a steady 35 mile per hour north or south wind, waves up to 4.5 feet high can develop.
Formerly a deep, fjord-like bay of ancient Lake Michigan, Torch Lake became an inland lake when a sand bar formed across the mouth of the bay (now the lake’s northwest end). The shoreline consists mostly of cobble-sized rocks. However, large areas of sand are present in some locations, most notably at the north and south ends. Bottom sediments in the deepest waters are grey or white in color due to the deposition of marl with only low levels of organic material. Almost everywhere, the lake has a wide, sandy, shallow region paralleling the shore, which ends in a steep drop-off. Aquatic plants are sparse, with muskgrass (or Chara) being the most abundant. Pondweeds, water milfoil, and wild celery (or tapegrass) are found in only a few locations.
Named tributaries include the Clam River (Torch Lake’s major inlet), and Spencer, Wilkinson, and Eastport Creeks. All of the other tributaries are very small and apparently unnamed. The Torch River flows out of the south end of the lake.
Torch Lake is noted for its coldwater fishery, including lake trout and whitefish, both of which are self-sustaining through natural reproduction. Burbot are common in a deep-water community association with the trout, whitefish, and deep-water sculpin. Smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and rock bass, and muskellunge are commonly fished for in Torch Lake, and Torch Lake is known for large muskies and whitefish. Fishing pressure is generally considered to be light. Because of its unproductive nature, Torch Lake does not yield large numbers of fish.
Fish Consumption Advisories have been listed for five species of its fish: brown trout, lake trout, lake whitefish, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch. High concentrations of mercury, PolyChlorinated Biphenyls (PCB’s), and dioxins—all toxic byproducts of industrialization—are the reasons for the advisories. It has recently been advised to never eat lake trout from Torch Lake, even for a healthy male. More information is available in the link under Additional Resources below.
Primary Inflows: Clam River, Eastport Creek
Primary Outflows: Torch River
Surface Area: 18473 acres
Shoreline: 41 miles
Maximum Depth: 302 feet
Public Access Sites: 48
Description:
Torch Lake is one of the most extraordinary lakes in Michigan. Its surface area is second largest in Michigan, but its great depth (about 300 feet, depending on the map) gives it by far the greatest depth and water volume of any inland lake in the state. As a result, Torch Lake has the longest flushing rate of any lake in the Elk River Chain of Lakes. Often, it does not freeze because of the large amount of heat stored in its vast volume. It is also Michigan’s longest inland lake. With a steady 35 mile per hour north or south wind, waves up to 4.5 feet high can develop.
Formerly a deep, fjord-like bay of ancient Lake Michigan, Torch Lake became an inland lake when a sand bar formed across the mouth of the bay (now the lake’s northwest end). The shoreline consists mostly of cobble-sized rocks. However, large areas of sand are present in some locations, most notably at the north and south ends. Bottom sediments in the deepest waters are grey or white in color due to the deposition of marl with only low levels of organic material. Almost everywhere, the lake has a wide, sandy, shallow region paralleling the shore, which ends in a steep drop-off. Aquatic plants are sparse, with muskgrass (or Chara) being the most abundant. Pondweeds, water milfoil, and wild celery (or tapegrass) are found in only a few locations.
Named tributaries include the Clam River (Torch Lake’s major inlet), and Spencer, Wilkinson, and Eastport Creeks. All of the other tributaries are very small and apparently unnamed. The Torch River flows out of the south end of the lake.
Torch Lake is noted for its coldwater fishery, including lake trout and whitefish, both of which are self-sustaining through natural reproduction. Burbot are common in a deep-water community association with the trout, whitefish, and deep-water sculpin. Smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and rock bass, and muskellunge are commonly fished for in Torch Lake, and Torch Lake is known for large muskies and whitefish. Fishing pressure is generally considered to be light. Because of its unproductive nature, Torch Lake does not yield large numbers of fish.
Fish Consumption Advisories have been listed for five species of its fish: brown trout, lake trout, lake whitefish, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch. High concentrations of mercury, PolyChlorinated Biphenyls (PCB’s), and dioxins—all toxic byproducts of industrialization—are the reasons for the advisories. It has recently been advised to never eat lake trout from Torch Lake, even for a healthy male. More information is available in the link under Additional Resources below.
Known Aquatic Invasive Species:
Zebra Mussels
Eurasian Watermilfoil
Round Goby
Monitoring and Research:
Torch 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 Torch 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.
This lake is monitored through the State’s Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP).
Zebra Mussels
Eurasian Watermilfoil
Round Goby
Monitoring and Research:
Torch 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 Torch 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.
This lake is monitored through the State’s Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP).
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Elk River Chain of Lakes - Fish Shelters
Fish shelters provide crucial protection for smaller forage fish, which is vital because shoreline development has decreased natural shallow-water structures. Shelters are constructed with all-natural materials that are approved by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and placed in 15 to 25 feet of water. This project is a collaboration between the Watershed Center, Three Lakes Association, Friends of Clam Lake, Antrim Conservation District, Elk-Skegemog Lakes Association, Intermediate Lake Association and Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council.
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Golden Brown Benthic Algae
Golden-brown benthic algae is not new to Torch Lake, but its prevalence in recent years seems to be increasing. More riparians are asking questions about this aesthetic nuisance in the near-shore bottomlands. Due to the volume of questions about this algae, Three Lakes Association has created a web page dedicated to providing the public with more information on this topic. Below are a few links of interest.
For additional information on this issues, visit http://3lakes.com/golden-brown-benthic-algae-project/ |
Golden-brown benthic algae on the bottom of Elk Lake. Photo: Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, Dan Myers.
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Publications:
2017 Sandbar Pollution Study*
Elk River Chain of Lakes – Lake Profile (2010)
Torch Lake Shoreline Greenbelt Survey (2008)*
Total Phosphorus Input and Output of Torch Lake (2005)
Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Protection Plan (2005)
Shoreline Algal Survey on Torch Lake, Clam Lake, and Lake Bellaire (2004)
Fish of the Elk River Chain of Lakes (2001) - Hard Copy only, $
*Report not conducted by Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council
Additional Resources:
See additional resources on our Aquavist page.
Torch Conservation Center
Torch Conservation Center, Inc is a local nonprofit organization promoting stewardship in the Torch Lake Watershed through freshwater education and land conservation to ensure a sustainable future for Torch Lake.
Torch Lake Protection Alliance
Torch Lake Protection Alliance (TLPA) was established in 1994 to provide a unifying voice for people who regard the preservation of Torch Lake as a top priority, enabling current and future generations to enjoy the responsible use of the geological jewel.
Three Lakes Association
The mission of the Three Lakes Association is to provide leadership to preserve, protect, and improve the environmental quality of the Elk River Chain of Lakes Watershed for all generations with emphasis on Lake Bellaire, Clam Lake, Torch Lake and their tributaries.
View an interactive map, including public access sites, at Michigan Fishweb.
Learn about safely eating fish from this lake in the Michigan Fish Consumption Advisory.
Information about Threatened, Endangered, and Special Concern species in this lake’s watershed is available on the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) website.
A wide variety of maps for this area are available online at the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) Data Resources page.
2017 Sandbar Pollution Study*
Elk River Chain of Lakes – Lake Profile (2010)
Torch Lake Shoreline Greenbelt Survey (2008)*
Total Phosphorus Input and Output of Torch Lake (2005)
Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Protection Plan (2005)
Shoreline Algal Survey on Torch Lake, Clam Lake, and Lake Bellaire (2004)
Fish of the Elk River Chain of Lakes (2001) - Hard Copy only, $
*Report not conducted by Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council
Additional Resources:
See additional resources on our Aquavist page.
Torch Conservation Center
Torch Conservation Center, Inc is a local nonprofit organization promoting stewardship in the Torch Lake Watershed through freshwater education and land conservation to ensure a sustainable future for Torch Lake.
Torch Lake Protection Alliance
Torch Lake Protection Alliance (TLPA) was established in 1994 to provide a unifying voice for people who regard the preservation of Torch Lake as a top priority, enabling current and future generations to enjoy the responsible use of the geological jewel.
Three Lakes Association
The mission of the Three Lakes Association is to provide leadership to preserve, protect, and improve the environmental quality of the Elk River Chain of Lakes Watershed for all generations with emphasis on Lake Bellaire, Clam Lake, Torch Lake and their tributaries.
View an interactive map, including public access sites, at Michigan Fishweb.
Learn about safely eating fish from this lake in the Michigan Fish Consumption Advisory.
Information about Threatened, Endangered, and Special Concern species in this lake’s watershed is available on the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) website.
A wide variety of maps for this area are available online at the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) Data Resources page.
