Arbutus Lake North Central Basin is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 19 other monitored lakes in Grand Traverse County, Arbutus Lake North Central Basin ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 16.8 ft down. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16.8 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Arbutus Lake North Central Basin
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Fishing Arbutus Lake North Central Basin
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.75 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.95 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 20 lakes in Grand Traverse County
Nearby Lakes in Grand Traverse County
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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EPA Impairment Status
Arbutus Lake North Central Basin is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601050506-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.91 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2023-09-08
Monitoring stations: 1