The lake is approximately 1.6 miles long, from south to north, and 1.1 miles wide, from east to west, and 65 ft at its deepest. It covers 670 acres. Lime Lake is part of the Good Harbor Bay watershed. In addition to a number of small creeks and springs, it is fed by Lime Creek at the southwestern corner of the lake. Shetland Creek flows out of the north end of the lake and into Little Traverse Lake, and from there Shalda Creek flows out of Little Traverse Lake and into Good Harbor Bay on Lake Michigan. Migratory fish from Lake Michigan have access to Lime Lake through this connection when there are no beaver dams or other natural obstructions. Chinook salmon have been observed spawning in Lime Creek. Lime Lake has a healthy fish community with abundant species diversity including brown trout, largemouth bass, northern pike, and smallmouth bass. The south and north ends of the lake feature lowland swamps dominated by cedar, hemlock, and birch trees. Rolling hillsides to the east and west feature upland hardwoods and conifers. Teichner Preserve, a 41-acre parcel located on the northeast shore of the lake, was gifted to the Leelanau Conservancy in 1996. Open to the public, a trail and boardwalk lead through extensive wetlands and forested lowlands to the lake shore. The Lime Lake Association is the riparian association representing property owners on Lime Lake.
Lumber-era history
In the late 19th century the lumber industry dominated the area. The Lime Lake Lumber Company mill was constructed around 1880. Timber harvested from the surrounding land was cut at the mill, and then hauled down a 3-mile plank road to Good Harbor Bay for shipping. The northeastern corner of the lake has some slabwood remnants easily visible on the shallow bottom.
Geological history
Lime Lake is a glacial lake, formed by natural and geologic forces. With the re-treat of the Laurentian Glacier, approximately 11,000 BP, and the ice burden gone, the earth’s crust in the northern part of the region began to rise. Over time the shoreline of the proglacial Lake Algonquin Lake Algonquin evolved with long peninsulas and bays becoming truncated from the main body lake to form separate lakes. At Good Harbor Bay, Lime Lake as well as neighboring Bass and School lakes, all at an elevation of 620 feet, were closed off early during the Lake Algonquin stage. During the Lake Nipissing stage, a crescent-shaped belt of dunes closed off Little Traverse Lake.
