Barlow Lake
Barry County, Michigan181 acresView mapDirections
Not Rated: one monitoring station are on record, but they measured water clarity only. LakeQuality’s A–F method grades total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity; clarity is shown, not scored.
- 60 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Barlow Lake in Barry County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 181 acres.
- Clarity
- 11 ft
- Max depth
- 60 ft
- Area
- 181 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Barlow Lake’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Barlow Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 60 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Barlow Lake has no grade
Barlow Lake has monitoring on record from one station, but only water clarity was measured. LakeQuality’s A–F letter uses total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity against EPA National Lakes Assessment condition classes. With none of those grading measurements on record, Barlow Lake is Not Rated — not an F. Its 11-foot median from 92 readings collected 2016–2022 is still shown as clarity, but clarity alone cannot earn a letter.
Not Rated is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Barlow Lake is a 181-acre lake in Barry County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 60 feet. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, and Green sunfish. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Barlow Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11 ft of visibility
- Fishing10 species recorded
- Deep water60 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Barlow Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. TSI 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 60 ft |
| Surface Area | 181 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Barlow Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.574 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +7.68 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.05 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Barlow Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Janose Farms-CafoMiddleville · 2.2 mi away · NPDES MI0059696Recent violation
- Bradford White CorpMiddleville · 4.2 mi away · NPDES MI0004405Recent violation
- Geukes MarketMiddleville · 4.3 mi away · NPDES MIG250277Recent violation
- Crystal Flash Limited PartnersMiddleville · 3.5 mi away · NPDES MIG080020
- Village Of MiddlevilleMiddleville · 4.8 mi away · NPDES MIG960011
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.
Graded lakes near Barlow Lake
Barlow Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Barry County
Frequently asked questions about Barlow Lake
Where is Barlow Lake?
- Barlow Lake is a lake in Barry County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Barlow Lake?
- Barlow Lake in Barry County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 181 acres.
Is Barlow Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Barlow Lake?
- Barlow Lake has a maximum depth of 60 feet. The lake covers 181 acres.
What fish are in Barlow Lake?
- Fish species found in Barlow Lake include Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Green sunfish, Johnny darter, Lake herring, Largemouth bass, Northern logperch, Pumpkinseed, Western banded killifish, Yellow perch. Barlow Lake is located in Barry County, Michigan.
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Where this data comes from
92 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS92 samples · 2016–2022
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)