Bristol Lake
Bristol Lake in Barry County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 139.6 acres.
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 140 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Bristol 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 Bristol 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.
Bristol Lake is a 140-acre lake in Barry County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2019-08-24. 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 Bristol Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bristol Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bristol Lake in Barry 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 Bristol Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 140 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
Fishing Bristol Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.133 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.7 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Bristol Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040500070209-05 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Bristol Lake
Bristol Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Barry County
Frequently asked questions about Bristol Lake
Where is Bristol Lake?
- Bristol Lake is a lake in Barry 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 Bristol Lake?
- Bristol Lake in Barry County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 139.6 acres.
Is Bristol Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Bristol Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Bristol Lake?
- Bristol Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 139.6 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Bristol Lake?
- Bristol Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bristol Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
37 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
NALMS37 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory