Late afternoon sun over Slim Lake, scattering a bright path across wind-textured water

Jackson County Lake Quality

Michigan, 58 lakes, average grade A (Excellent)

Jackson County has 58 monitored lakes, enough that within-county variation matters as much as the county average. Some are deep glacial basins, others are shallow agricultural-watershed waters, and the measurements reflect that mix. 1 of those lake carry an A–F grade. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. The county's average grade is A — among the cleanest in Michigan. 1 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. Clear Lake (A) is the cleanest in the county.

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Where to stay near Jackson County

Top-rated places to stay near Jackson County

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Quick Answers for Jackson County

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

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

Fishing in Jackson County

Jackson County Fishing Guide

Fish species and best-graded lakes in Jackson County

All Lakes in Jackson County

58 lakes · 1 graded, 57 not rated1 graded lake · 57 not rated, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (57)

#	Lake	Grade	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	AClear LakeJackson	A	10.5 ft	9 µg/L	3.6 µg/L	No recent samples	34 ft	Not recorded
	NRBrown LakeJackson	NR	7.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRClark LakeJackson	NR	10 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	50 ft	Not recorded
	NRFarewell LakeJackson	NR	13.8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	43 ft	✓ Public
	NRPortage LakeJackson	NR	8.8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	40 ft	✓ Public
	NRBatteese LakeJackson	NR	2.8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRAckerson LakeJackson	NR	12 ft	13 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRCranberry LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	32 ft	Not recorded
	NRPleasant LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	50 ft	Not recorded
	NRMarkla LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	22 ft	Not recorded
	NRWhite LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	36 ft	Not recorded
	NRLittle Portage LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	36 ft	Not recorded
	NRWelch LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	27 ft	Not recorded
	NRBrill LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	35 ft	Not recorded
	NRTims LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	Not recorded
	NRGoose LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
	NRGilletts LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	✓ Public
	NRGrass LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	10 ft	✓ Public
	NRCenter LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public
	NRPrice LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	Not recorded
	NRWolf LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	36 ft	Not recorded
	NRLittle Wolf LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRVandercook LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	42 ft	✓ Public
	NRLime Lake (North)Jackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	21 ft	Not recorded
	NRBessey LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	27 ft	Not recorded
	NRLime Lake (South)Jackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	Not recorded
	NRReynolds LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	29 ft	Not recorded
	NRSwezzey LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
	NRStony LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	35 ft	Not recorded
	NRNorvell LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	28 ft	Not recorded
	NRSwains LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	60 ft	✓ Public
	NRWatkins LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	Not recorded
	NRWilbur LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	Not recorded
	NRFay LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	32 ft	Not recorded
	NRSkiff LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	36 ft	Not recorded
	NRCrispell LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	15 ft	✓ Public
	NRLake ColumbiaJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	48 ft	Not recorded
	NRVineyard LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	40 ft	✓ Public
	NRPine Hills LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
	NRRound LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	40 ft	✓ Public
	NRHorseshoe LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	Not recorded
	NRMud LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
	NRMirror LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	45 ft	Not recorded
	NRWamplers LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	67 ft	Not recorded
	NRSpring Arbor LakesJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRFox LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRGurley LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRCooper LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NREagle LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRRound LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLittle Olcott LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRPond Lily LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRNotten LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NROlcott LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBibbons LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRRustine LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRPine Hills LakeJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRMill PondJackson	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	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.

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Other Counties in Michigan

Dickinson County

43 lakes · Avg grade A

Clare County

47 lakes · Avg grade A

Ogemaw County

50 lakes · Avg grade A

Cheboygan County

31 lakes · Avg grade A

Roscommon County

26 lakes · Avg grade A

Gladwin County

29 lakes · Avg grade A

See how Jackson County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.