Barnes Lake is a 110-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Lapeer County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Lapeer County, Barnes Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 14.5 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 2.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.5 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.1 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 110 acres |
Where to stay near Barnes Lake
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Fishing Barnes Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +4.57 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 8 lakes in Lapeer County
Nearby Lakes in Lapeer County
Explore Barnes Lake across LakeGrade
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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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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Oakland County · Clarity: 15 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 23 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 25 ft
Livingston County · Clarity: 10 ft
Livingston County · Excellent
Washtenaw County · Clarity: 11.5 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Barnes Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Barnes Lake Dam (completed 1935), built primarily for recreation on the Barnes Lake Outlet; earth-type dam, 7 ft tall and 225 ft long.
- Surface area
- 110 ac
- Normal storage
- 132 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 184 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Barnes Lake Property Owners
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI01420 · Operator website
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 Barnes Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Wolverine Christ Service CampColumbiaville · 4.2 mi away · NPDES MIG580336Recent violation
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-18
Monitoring stations: 1