Avery Lake is a 322-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Montmorency County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including Bluntnose minnow, Creek chub, and Hornyhead chub. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Montmorency County, Avery Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-08-13. 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 27 ft down. Trophic State Index: 30.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 27 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 30 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 322 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Avery Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.48 m/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 6 lakes in Montmorency County
Nearby Lakes in Montmorency 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 A Lakes in Michigan
Otsego County · Clarity: 15 ft
Otsego County · Clarity: 16.5 ft
Alpena County · Clarity: 16 ft
Alpena County · Clarity: 16 ft
Otsego County · Clarity: 16.5 ft
Otsego County · Clarity: 16.5 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Avery Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Avery Lake Dam (completed 1970), built primarily for recreation on the Crooked Creek; earth-type dam, 15 ft tall and 200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 322 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,140 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,420 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 11.4 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Montmorency Co. Drain Commissioner
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00056 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Avery Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040700060304-02 · Official waterbody report
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: 2022-08-13
Monitoring stations: 1