Van Buren County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 15 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Van Buren County's 15 graded lakes fall in the moderate-density bracket for Michigan. The county-level average smooths over real differences — a single agricultural watershed near the southwest corner can pull the average down even if the rest of the county runs clean. With an average grade of B, Van Buren County sits comfortably above the Michigan median.
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 Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township (A); the most-stressed is Sassafras Lake (F).
Quick Answers for Van Buren County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
All Lakes in Van Buren County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township | A | 17 ft | - | - |
| 2 | Eagle Lake | A | 15 ft | - | - |
| 3 | Mi11 Lake | A | 42.7 ft | - | - |
| 4 | Csmi 2015 Station B Lake | A | - | - | - |
| 5 | Gravel Lake North Central Basin; Porter Township Section 31 | A | 11.8 ft | - | - |
| 6 | Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township | A | 13 ft | - | - |
| 7 | Gravel Lake | B | 11.5 ft | - | - |
| 8 | Great Bear Lake | C | 7.8 ft | - | - |
| 9 | Fish Lake Central Basin; Almena Township | C | 8 ft | - | - |
| 10 | Silver Lake Central Basin; Columbia Township | C | 9.5 ft | - | - |
| 11 | Silver Lake | C | 9.5 ft | - | - |
| 12 | Fish Lake | C | 8.3 ft | - | - |
| 13 | Great Bear Lake South Basin; Bloomingdale Township | C | 8 ft | - | - |
| 14 | Great Bear Lake North Basin; Bloomingdale Township | D | 6.5 ft | - | - |
| 15 | Sassafras Lake | F | - | - | 130 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.