Crystal clear and blue water is the norm for Lake Michigan. It, along with Lake Huron (technically Michigan and Huron are one lake) are the clearest of the Great Lakes… now clearer than Lake Superior.
This photo I took a couple of miles north of Grand Haven. Views from the shore at the Grand Haven State Park are less blue, with the nutrients and sediment coming from the Grand River fanning out along the beach.
But predominantly, Lake Michigan has transformed over the last few decades, changing from a brownish-green to the clear blue color of today. Nice to look at, nice to swim in… but actually not as healthy for the lake’s ecosystem. Trillions of invasive mussels now incredibly filter the entire volume of Lake Michigan water in four to six days. Removing the algae removes the bottom of the food chain, ultimately meaning fewer king and coho salmon. For now, the fishing is still good. But a battle rages as humans try to find a way to make Lake Michigan a bit less clear… and healthier.