Big Bradford Lake
Big Bradford Lake in Otsego County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 22 ft visibility. Surface area: 255.6 acres.
- Clarity
- 22 ft
- Area
- 256 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Big Bradford Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Big Bradford Lake, 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. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. 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.
Big Bradford Lake is a 256-acre lake in Otsego County, Michigan. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including Blackchin shiner, Bluntnose minnow, and Brook stickleback. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2019-09-21. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Big Bradford Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 22 ft down. Trophic State Index: 33.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 22 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 33 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Big Bradford Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Bradford Lake in Otsego County, Michigan — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Big Bradford Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 256 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Big Bradford Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Bradford Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.139 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Graded lakes near Big Bradford Lake
Big Bradford Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Otsego County
Frequently asked questions about Big Bradford Lake
Where is Big Bradford Lake?
- Big Bradford Lake is a lake in Otsego County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Big Bradford Lake?
- Big Bradford Lake in Otsego County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 22 ft visibility. Surface area: 255.6 acres.
Is Big Bradford Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Big Bradford Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What fish are in Big Bradford Lake?
- Fish species found in Big Bradford Lake include Blackchin shiner, Bluntnose minnow, Brook stickleback, Central mudminnow, Common shiner, Golden shiner, Hornyhead chub, Iowa darter, Johnny darter, Largemouth bass, Least darter, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, White sucker. Big Bradford Lake is located in Otsego County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Big Bradford Lake?
- Big Bradford Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Big Bradford Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
38 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2019. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS38 samples · 2016–2019
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory