Barnes Lake is a 110-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Lapeer County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Lapeer County, Barnes Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-16. 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 14 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | 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 #3 of 8 lakes in Lapeer County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Barnes Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Lapeer County
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Oakland County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 13 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 13 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 10 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 13 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 12 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.
- Deerfield Pines MhcNorth Branch · 1.1 mi away · NPDES MI0053180Recent 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: 2022-09-16
Monitoring stations: 1