Arbutus Lake South Basin is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. 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, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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
Where to stay near Arbutus Lake South Basin
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Fishing Arbutus Lake South Basin
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +4.82 m/yr | 3 |
Location
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.
Nearby Lakes in Grand Traverse County
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Antrim County · Clarity: 14.5 ft
Leelanau County · Clarity: 12.5 ft
Leelanau County · Clarity: 11.8 ft
Benzie County · Clarity: 13.8 ft
Benzie County · Clarity: 14.5 ft
Wexford County · Clarity: 9.3 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
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
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)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Arbutus Lake South Basin under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Hoeflins Service-KingsleyKingsley · 4.8 mi away · NPDES MIG081097
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-08
Monitoring stations: 1