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

Van Buren County Lake Quality

Michigan, 71 lakes, average grade B (Good)

Van Buren County in Michigan carries 71 monitored lakes — one of the lake-richer counties in our dataset. Coverage that dense usually reflects active lake-association sampling alongside state-agency monitoring. 2 of those lakes carry an A–F grade. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. 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 Cedar Lake (A); the most-stressed is Sassafras Lake (D).

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Where to stay near Van Buren County

Top-rated places to stay near Van Buren County

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Quick Answers for Van Buren County

Cleanest lakes in Van Buren County →Cleanest lakes in Michigan →Safest swimming lakes in Michigan →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Cedar Lake — or check the official Michigan fishing regulations.

Fishing in Van Buren County

Van Buren County Fishing Guide

Fish species and best-graded lakes in Van Buren County

All Lakes in Van Buren County

71 lakes · 2 graded, 69 not rated2 graded lakes · 69 not rated, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (69)

#	Lake	Grade	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	ACedar LakeVan Buren	A	14 ft	10 µg/L	2 µg/L	No recent samples	84 ft	Not recorded
2	DSassafras LakeVan Buren	D	No recent samples	105 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRFish LakeVan Buren	NR	8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public
	NRGravel LakeVan Buren	NR	11.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRSilver LakeVan Buren	NR	9.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRThree Mile Lake NorthVan Buren	NR	8 ft	9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRThreemile LakeVan Buren	NR	8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	35 ft	✓ Public
	NREagle LakeVan Buren	NR	15.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	60 ft	✓ Public
	NRGreat Bear LakeVan Buren	NR	6.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	58 ft	✓ Public
	NRGreat Bear LakeVan Buren	NR	8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRMuskrat LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	39 ft	✓ Public
	NRSweet LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	44 ft	Not recorded
	NRClear LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	50 ft	✓ Public
	NRLake ElevenVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	✓ Public
	NRSaddle LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	✓ Public
	NRLake FourteenVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public
	NRMill LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	41 ft	Not recorded
	NRNorth LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	18 ft	Not recorded
	NRBrandywine LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public
	NRUpper Jeptha LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	40 ft	Not recorded
	NRLower Jeptha LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	19 ft	Not recorded
	NRNorth LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	38 ft	Not recorded
	NRNorth Scott LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	✓ Public
	NRSouth Scott LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	50 ft	Not recorded
	NRWolf LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRSchool Section LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	40 ft	✓ Public
	NRVan Auken LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	45 ft	✓ Public
	NRRush LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	50 ft	✓ Public
	NRBrownwood LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	39 ft	Not recorded
	NRMaple LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
	NRAckley LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	16 ft	✓ Public
	NRLake CoraVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	50 ft	✓ Public
	NRReynolds LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	✓ Public
	NRShafer LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	70 ft	✓ Public
	NRChristie LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	32 ft	Not recorded
	NRHuzzy LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	✓ Public
	NRBankson LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	40 ft	✓ Public
	NRWoods, Lake of theVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	✓ Public
	NRKeeler LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	21 ft	Not recorded
	NRRound LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public
	NRLittle Cedar LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
	NRCrooked LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	49 ft	Not recorded
	NRCrooked Lake, LittleVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	62 ft	Not recorded
	NRLittle Bankson LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBankson LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRGrass LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRSwift LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRPopendick LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRPond Lily LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRKnickerbocker LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRSchool LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRMud LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBrown LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRCrooked LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRPine LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRHaney LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRDuck LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRMerriman LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRSchool Section LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRCoffee LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRMunson LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLittle Bear LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRDeer LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRThree Legged LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRMartin LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRMax LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRFisk LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBaker LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLime LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRWolf LakeVan Buren	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRWest LakeVan Buren	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 Van Buren 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.