Clam Lake
Clam Lake in Antrim County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Surface area: 437.4 acres.
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Area
- 437 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Antrim County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
Free interactive depth-contour map of Clam Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 8 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Clam 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 Clam 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.
Clam Lake is a 437-acre lake in Antrim County, Michigan. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Muskellunge. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2024-07-17. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Clam Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Clam Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Clam Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Clam Lake in Antrim 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 Clam Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Clam Lake → · more Michigan lake trips
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 437 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
The available depth estimate for Clam Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Clam LakePublic
- DocksideSemi-private
- Butch's Tackle and MarineSemi-private
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 Clam Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 9 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.548 m/yr | 9 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.29 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Clam 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 MI040601050304-08 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.95 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Clam Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Butchs Tackle And MarineBellaire · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MIG081132
- Butchs Tackle & MarineBellaire · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MIG080002
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Graded lakes near Clam Lake
Clam Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Antrim County
Frequently asked questions about Clam Lake
Where is Clam Lake?
- Clam Lake is a lake in Antrim 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 Clam Lake?
- Clam Lake in Antrim County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Surface area: 437.4 acres.
Is Clam Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Clam 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 Clam Lake?
- The available depth estimate for Clam Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown. The lake covers 437.4 acres.
What fish are in Clam Lake?
- Fish species found in Clam Lake include Muskellunge. Clam Lake is located in Antrim County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Clam Lake?
- Clam Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Clam Lake, Dockside, Butch's Tackle and Marine. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Clam Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Antrim County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Grand Traverse Region area
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
Planning a trip around Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Clam Lake is about 38 miles from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes →More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Lakes in Michigan
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
90 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS90 samples · 2016–2024
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory