Beaver Lake
Beaver Lake in Alpena County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 70 ft. Surface area: 675.9 acres.
- Clarity
- 16.5 ft
- Max depth
- 70 ft
- Area
- 676 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Beaver Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 70 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Beaver Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Beaver Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Beaver Lake is a 676-acre lake in Alpena County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 70 feet. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Brown bullhead and Lake herring.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-03. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Beaver Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 16.5 ft down. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Beaver Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Beaver Lake in Alpena County, Michigan — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Beaver Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 70 ft |
| Surface Area | 676 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Beaver Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.505 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.3 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Beaver Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040700060101-02 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Beaver Lake
Beaver Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Alpena County
Frequently asked questions about Beaver Lake
Where is Beaver Lake?
- Beaver Lake is a lake in Alpena County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Beaver Lake?
- Beaver Lake in Alpena County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 70 ft. Surface area: 675.9 acres.
Is Beaver Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Beaver Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Beaver Lake?
- Beaver Lake has a maximum depth of 70 feet. The lake covers 675.9 acres.
What fish are in Beaver Lake?
- Fish species found in Beaver Lake include Brown bullhead, Lake herring. Beaver Lake is located in Alpena County, Michigan.
Explore Beaver Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
60 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS60 samples · 2016–2022
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database