Oakland County Lake Quality

Michigan, 68 lakes, average grade B (Good)

Oakland County in Michigan carries 68 graded lakes — one of the lake-richer counties in our dataset. Coverage that dense usually reflects active lake-association sampling alongside state-agency monitoring. The county-wide average lands at B — solid water quality with most lakes carrying clear summer transparency and low-to-moderate phosphorus.

The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Sylvan Lake; Sylvan Lake Township (A); the most-stressed is Indianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion Township (D).

Loading map…

Where to stay near Oakland County

Top-rated places to stay near Oakland County

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 to Oakland County?

Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Oakland County — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Quick Answers for Oakland County

Cleanest lakes in Oakland County →Cleanest lakes in Michigan →Safest swimming lakes in Michigan →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Sylvan Lake; Sylvan Lake Township, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official Michigan fishing regulations.

Fishing in Oakland County

Oakland County Fishing Guide

Fish species and best-graded lakes in Oakland County

All Lakes in Oakland County

68 lakes · 7 graded, 61 not rated7 graded lakes · 61 not rated, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (61)

#	Lake	Grade	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	ASylvan Lake; Sylvan Lake TownshipOakland	A	10.3 ft	16 µg/L	2.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
2	ATwin LakesOakland	A	5 ft	28 µg/L	6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
3	BCranberry Lake; Center ofOakland	B	8.5 ft	23 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	Not recorded
4	BCedar Is Lake East Central BasinOakland	B	10.8 ft	15.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
5	BPleasant Lake; West Bloomfield TownshipOakland	B	10 ft	22.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
6	CTull Lake Central Basin; White Lake TownshipOakland	C	4.8 ft	27 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
7	DIndianwood Lake Northwest Basin; Orion TownshipOakland	D	8.8 ft	27.5 µg/L	14.8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRUpper Straits LakeOakland	NR	14.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	96 ft	Not recorded
	NRHawk LakeOakland	NR	9 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRLotus LakeOakland	NR	11 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	117 ft	Not recorded
	NROxbow LakeOakland	NR	14.3 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	72 ft	Not recorded
	NRDeer LakeOakland	NR	9 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	63 ft	Not recorded
	NRLakeville LakeOakland	NR	9.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	66 ft	Not recorded
	NRMiddle Straits LakeOakland	NR	10.3 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	55 ft	Not recorded
	NRCranberry LakeOakland	NR	8.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	Not recorded
	NRLong LakeOakland	NR	13 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	50 ft	Not recorded
	NRLake OrionOakland	NR	13 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	80 ft	✓ Public
	NRTaylor LakeOakland	NR	15 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRMaceday LakeOakland	NR	14 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	117 ft	Not recorded
	NRLake AngelusOakland	NR	13.3 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRWhite Lake Southeast Basin; Highland TownshipOakland	NR	13 ft	10.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRElizabeth LakeOakland	NR	14 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	72 ft	Not recorded
	NRDollar LakeOakland	NR	9 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRSeymour LakeOakland	NR	10 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	21 ft	Not recorded
	NRVoorheis LakeOakland	NR	20.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRCross LakeOakland	NR	15 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NROtter LakeOakland	NR	10.3 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	70 ft	Not recorded
	NRCedar LakeOakland	NR	11 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRUpper Long LakeOakland	NR	8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRCass LakeOakland	NR	11 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	123 ft	✓ Public
	NRMud LakeOakland	NR	11 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRSquaw LakeOakland	NR	11 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRWalters LakeOakland	NR	10.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	18 ft	Not recorded
	NRCrescent LakeOakland	NR	10.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	40 ft	Not recorded
	NRTownsend LakeOakland	NR	12 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	55 ft	Not recorded
	NRGilbert LakeOakland	NR	8.3 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	18 ft	Not recorded
	NRLake Voorheis East Basin; Orion TownshipOakland	NR	20.5 ft	14 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRCrooked LakeOakland	NR	11.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	60 ft	Not recorded
	NRLake OaklandOakland	NR	10.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	64 ft	✓ Public
	NRBloomfield LakeOakland	NR	3.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRBrendel LakeOakland	NR	12.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRCedar Island LakeOakland	NR	10.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	72 ft	✓ Public
	NRIndianwood LakeOakland	NR	8.8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRNeva Lake North Basin; White Lake TownshipOakland	NR	9.8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRHuff LakeOakland	NR	11 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRRainbow Pond; Waterford TownshipOakland	NR	3.5 ft	53 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRTan LakeOakland	NR	11 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLake NevaOakland	NR	9.8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRBuhl LakeOakland	NR	9.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRSears Lake Central Basin; Milford TownshipOakland	NR	6.5 ft	16.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRClear LakeOakland	NR	11 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLake SixteenOakland	NR	11 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	Not recorded
	NRLong LakeOakland	NR	10.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	55 ft	Not recorded
	NRDixie LakeOakland	NR	9.8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRLake LouiseOakland	NR	7 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	38 ft	Not recorded
	NRGreen Lake Central Basin; West Bloomfield TwpOakland	NR	11.8 ft	12 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	72 ft	Not recorded
	NRTwin LakesOakland	NR	6.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRRound LakeOakland	NR	10.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	15 ft	✓ Public
	NRRound LakeOakland	NR	10 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLake AngelaOakland	NR	6 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLake AngelaOakland	NR	6 ft	26 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRSquare LakeOakland	NR	23 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	67 ft	Not recorded
	NRWormer LakeOakland	NR	10 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	24 ft	✓ Public
	NRMohawk LakeOakland	NR	11 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	33 ft	Not recorded
	NRWoodhull LakeOakland	NR	14.8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	50 ft	Not recorded
	NRSherwood Lake South Basin; Commerce TownshipOakland	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRBuckhorn Lake North Central Basin; Rose TownshipOakland	NR	No recent samples	12 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRHammond Lake Central Basin East; Bloomfield TownshipOakland	NR	No recent samples	13 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded

NR = not rated: there is not enough recent sampling to support a letter. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.

Lake Match

Which lake suits how you actually use one?

Six questions — swimming, fishing, quiet, cabins, drive time — and a shortlist of graded lakes that fit, with the water quality behind each one.

Take the quiz →

Other Counties in Michigan

Dickinson County

13 lakes · Avg grade A

Clare County

7 lakes · Avg grade A

Ogemaw County

3 lakes · Avg grade A

Cheboygan County

8 lakes · Avg grade A

Roscommon County

4 lakes · Avg grade A

Gladwin County

10 lakes · Avg grade A

See how Oakland County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 49 states and 2 Canadian provinces.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.