Big Bear Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Otsego County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Bluntnose minnow, Largemouth bass, and Yellow perch. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Otsego County, Big Bear Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-02. 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 15 ft down. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Bear Lake
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Big Bear Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 36 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 13 lakes in Otsego County
Nearby Lakes in Otsego 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
Montmorency County · Clarity: 13 ft
Montmorency County · Clarity: 10 ft
Montmorency County · Clarity: 27 ft
Crawford County · Clarity: 19 ft
Crawford County · Clarity: 19 ft
Cheboygan County · Clarity: 32 ft
Oligotrophic 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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-09-02
Monitoring stations: 1