B

Arbutus Lake South Basin

Grand Traverse County, WisconsinLimited DataOligotrophic

Arbutus Lake South Basin is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Grand Traverse County, MI. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Compared to the 19 other monitored lakes in Grand Traverse County, Arbutus Lake South Basin ranks #19 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2023-09-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Swimming Safety

Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels

Water Quality Grade: B, Good

Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.

Metric	Value	Grade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)	13.5 ft	B
Phosphorus	No data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)	No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)	40	Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #19 of 20 lakes in Grand Traverse County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

Arbutus Lake South Basin holds Grade B. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.

See full comparison →

Nearby Lakes in Grand Traverse County

East Arm Grand Traverse Bay 2 Mi From South Shore Lake

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East Arm Grand Traverse Bay 2.5 Mi From North End Lake

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More Wisconsin Lake Rankings

Cleanest lakes in Wisconsin

Top 25 by overall water quality score

Best swimming lakes in Wisconsin

Grade A/B + low algae filter

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Panfish-rich, public access

All Wisconsin lakes

Full state directory

Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin

Middle Lake; Elba Township; Section 13

Lapeer County · Clarity: 9.5 ft

Livingston County · Clarity: 13 ft

Bear Lake East Basin; Pleasanton Township

Manistee County · Clarity: 11 ft

Lake County · Clarity: 14 ft

Cass County · Clarity: 10.5 ft

Byram Lake West Central Basin; Fenton Township

Genesee County · Clarity: 10 ft

Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin

Lake Ann Southeast Basin; Almira Township Section 26 Windover Lake South Basin; Freeman Township Squaw Lake Moon Lake Central Basin; Watersmeet Township

EPA Impairment Status

Arbutus Lake South Basin is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).

Causes of impairment

Mercury

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601050506-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.34 km)

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Most recent sample: 2023-09-08

Monitoring stations: 1