Arbutus Lake South Central Basin is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Bluegill and Pumpkinseed. Compared to the 19 other monitored lakes in Grand Traverse County, Arbutus Lake South Central Basin ranks #8 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 19 ft down. Chlorophyll-a: 2.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 19 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.1 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Arbutus Lake South Central Basin
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Arbutus Lake South Central Basin
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.695 m/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Arbutus Lake South Central Basin averages about 67°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 69°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 583 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Arbutus Lake South Central Basin water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 20 lakes in Grand Traverse County
Nearby Lakes in Grand Traverse County
Explore Arbutus Lake South Central Basin across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Grand Traverse County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Arbutus Lake South 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 (0.57 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
Most recent sample: 2023-09-08
Monitoring stations: 1