Alpena County Lake Quality
Michigan, 4 lakes, average grade A (Excellent)
Alpena County has 4 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. The county's average grade is A — among the cleanest in Michigan. 2 lakes pull an A on their own, and almost none fall into the D or F brackets.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Beaver Lake Central Basin; Ossineke Township (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Alpena County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Beaver Lake Central Basin; Ossineke Township, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official Michigan fishing regulations.
Fishing in Alpena County
All Lakes in Alpena County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beaver Lake Central Basin; Ossineke Township | A | 16 ft | - |
| 2 | Beaver Lake | A | 16 ft | - |
Other Counties in Michigan
See how Alpena County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 15 states.
Where to stay near Alpena County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.