Jackson County Lake Quality
Michigan, 9 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Only 9 lakes in Jackson County carry an active grade. The county-level summary is therefore representative of those specific lakes, not necessarily of every water body in the county. Jackson County averages to a C. The distribution behind that average matters more than the letter: a few stressed lakes versus many decent ones can produce the same average as the inverse.
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. Farewell Lake West Basin; Hanover Township (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Jackson County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Farewell Lake West Basin; Hanover Township, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official Michigan fishing regulations.
Fishing in Jackson County
All Lakes in Jackson County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farewell Lake West Basin; Hanover Township | A | 11.8 ft | - |
| 2 | Clear Lake East Basin; Waterloo Township | A | 10 ft | - |
| 3 | Farewell Lake | B | 11.5 ft | - |
| 4 | Clear Lake | B | 10 ft | - |
| 5 | Ackerson Lake; Napoleon Twp | B | 12 ft | - |
| 6 | Brown Lake Central Basin; Summit Township | C | 7.5 ft | - |
| 7 | Brown Lake | C | 8 ft | - |
| 8 | Batteese Lake | F | 2.8 ft | - |
| 9 | Batteese Lake | F | 3 ft | - |
Other Counties in Michigan
See how Jackson 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 Jackson County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.