Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third-largest by surface area. Lake Michigan is shared by Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. The word “Michigan” originally referred to the lake itself, and is believed to come from the Ojibwa word mishigami meaning “great water.”
Interested in Lake Michigan levels?
Try the interactive Great Lakes Dashboard Project at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL).
- Click this link if you are using a tablet, mobile device or a Mac without Flash Player installed https://www.glerl.noaa.gov//data/dashboard/GLD_HTML5.html
- Click this link if you are using a device with Flash Player installed: https://www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/dashboard/GLWLD.html
MCLA Lake Director: John S. Durbrow
Facts & Figures:
- All of Manitowoc County is included in the Lake Michigan watershed.
- Shore length: 1,400 mi + 238 mi (islands)
- Max. length: 307 mi
- Max. width: 118 mi
- Surface area: 22,300 sq mi
- Depth: Max. 923 ft Mean 279 ft
- Volume: 1,180 cu mi
- Lake type: Glacial
- Recreation and Parks: Visit the Manitowoc City and Manitowoc County websites for information on the many lakeshore parks and attractions, such as Fischer Creek Conservation area.
Fishing Regulations:
- Species present: Click here.
- Current Fishing Report: Click here.
In general, Manitowoc County Lake Michigan fishing reports are updated once per week, usually on Tuesdays, beginning in spring. - 2015 Point Creek Smallmouth Bass Survey Report
- Consumption advisory: Click here.
- Dec 5, 2019: New Stocking Plan Aims at Enhancing Lake Michigan Fishing (Wisconsin DNR website)
Aquatic Invasive Species
- Alewife, Big Head carp, Rainbow smelt, Ruffe, Round goby, Silver carp, Sea Lamprey, White perch, Bloody-red shrimp, Spiny and fishhook waterfleas, Zebra and Quagga mussels, Rusty crayfish.
Read more on the Wisconsin DNR website.
Other Resources:
- EPA Lake Michigan Management Plan
- US Army Corps of Engineers – Lake Michigan Conditions
- Wisconsin Shoreline Inventory and Oblique Viewer (floodatlas.org)
