Elk River Chain of Lakes

The Elk River Chain of Lakes drains a 321,000-acre watershed, beginning at its serene headwaters near East Jordan and emptying into the majestic deep blue waters of East Grand Traverse Bay at Elk Rapids. The sinuous chain first flows north from Beals to Scotts, through Sixmile and on to St. Clair Lake. Near the town of Ellsworth, the chain turns 180 degrees and heads south through Ellsworth, Wilson, Ben-way, Hanley and Intermediate Lakes. South of the town of Bellaire, the chain begins to open up, jogging south, west, south and west again through typically larger lakes, from Lake Bellaire to Clam and Torch Lakes, then to Lake Skegemog and Elk Lake before emptying into Lake Michigan. The combined surface area of all fourteen lakes is 34,420 acres – a veritable wealth of water resources!

Elk River Chain of Lakes Watershed Map

Volunteer Lake Monitoring Results for the Elk River Chain of Lakes

Additional Resources about Elk Skegemog Lakes

Elk River Chain of Lakes - Profile 2010

Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council
8 pages

The report contains specific data for Bellaire Lake, Ben-way Lake, Clam Lake, Elk Lake, Elk Lake, Ellsworth Lake, Hanley Lake, Intermediate Lake, Sixmile Lake, Skegemog Lake, St. Claire Lake, Torch Lake, and Wils­on Lake from two of our cornerstone water quality programs - Comprehensive Water Quality Monitoring Program and Volunteer Lake Monitoring program. These two programs have provided valuable data on the overall health of our waters. The report also contains information about Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council's work with shoreline property owners and lake associations regarding erosion control, greenbelts and nutrient pollution.

Additional information about this lake can be obtained from the following partner organization.

Elk Skegemog Lakes Association

Mission
Do all things and take such actions as may be necessary or desireable to protect and preserve the environment of the area of the Elk-Skegemog watershed, including connecting lakes, streams and wetlands.

Contact:                 Dean Ginther, President
Mailing Address:    PO Box 8
City/State/Zip:        Elk Rapids, MI 49629-0008

Phone:                   n/a
Fax:                       n/a
E-mail:                  dean.ginther@gmail.com

Website:               http://www.elk-skegemog.org

Friends of Clam Lake