Barry County Lake Quality
Michigan, 14 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Barry County has 14 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-wide average lands at B — solid water quality with most lakes carrying clear summer transparency and low-to-moderate phosphorus.
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. Cobb Lake Central Basin (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Barry County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Cobb Lake Central Basin — or check the official Michigan fishing regulations.
Fishing in Barry County
All Lakes in Barry County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cobb Lake Central Basin | A | 16 ft | - |
| 2 | Cobb Lake | A | 16 ft | - |
| 3 | Little Long Lake Central Basin; Prairieville Township | A | 12.5 ft | - |
| 4 | Long Lake Northeast Basin; Hope Twsp. | A | 11 ft | - |
| 5 | Payne Lake | B | 12 ft | - |
| 6 | Payne Lake North Central Basin | B | 11.5 ft | - |
| 7 | Barlow Lake | B | 11 ft | - |
| 8 | Long Lake | B | 11 ft | - |
| 9 | Crooked Lake | B | 10 ft | - |
| 10 | Wall Lake | C | 9.5 ft | - |
| 11 | Carter Lake | D | 4 ft | - |
| 12 | Carter Lake Northwest Basin | D | 4.5 ft | - |
Other Counties in Michigan
See how Barry 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 Barry County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.