Cedar Lake
Cedar Lake in Alcona County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 913.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Max depth
- 10 ft
- Area
- 914 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Cedar Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 10 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Cedar 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 Cedar 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.
Cedar Lake is a 914-acre lake in Alcona County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 10 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 22 documented fish species including Black bullhead, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-10. 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 Cedar Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Cedar Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cedar Lake in Alcona 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 Cedar Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 914 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Lake To Lake RoadPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cedar Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 8 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.593 m/yr | 8 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.02 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.03 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Cedar Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040700030406-03 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Cedar Lake
Cedar Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Alcona County
Frequently asked questions about Cedar Lake
Where is Cedar Lake?
- Cedar Lake is a lake in Alcona 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 Cedar Lake?
- Cedar Lake in Alcona County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 913.8 acres.
Is Cedar Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Cedar 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 Cedar Lake?
- Cedar Lake has a maximum depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 913.8 acres.
What fish are in Cedar Lake?
- Fish species found in Cedar Lake include Black bullhead, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Brown bullhead, Central mudminnow, Common shiner, Emerald shiner, Fathead minnow, Golden shiner, Iowa darter, Johnny darter, Largemouth bass, Mimic shiner, Northern pike, Northern redbelly dace, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Sand shiner, Smallmouth bass, Tadpole madtom, Western banded killifish, Yellow perch. Cedar Lake is located in Alcona County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Cedar Lake?
- Cedar Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake To Lake Road. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Cedar Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
79 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
NALMS79 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory