Bear Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Manistee County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including Blacknose shiner, Blackstripe topminnow, and Bluntnose minnow. Public access is available. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Manistee County, Bear Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-11. 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 11 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bear Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bear Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.331 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.55 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Bear Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 6 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 12 lakes in Manistee County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Bear Lake holds Grade B. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Manistee County
Explore Bear Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Manistee County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Benzie County · Clarity: 8 ft
Benzie County · Clarity: 13.8 ft
Benzie County · Clarity: 11.5 ft
Benzie County · Clarity: 12 ft
Benzie County · Clarity: 6.5 ft
Benzie County · Clarity: 13 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-09-11
Monitoring stations: 1