Brown Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Jackson County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Common shiner, Creek chub, and Hornyhead chub. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Brown Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Brown Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Brown Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.225 m/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 9 lakes in Jackson County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Brown Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Explore Brown Lake across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Jackson County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Michigan
Hillsdale County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Lenawee County · Clarity: 5 ft
Washtenaw County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Washtenaw County · Clarity: 9 ft
Washtenaw County · Clarity: 5.8 ft
Washtenaw County · Clarity: 7.2 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.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
8 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Brown Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 7 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Aeroquip Tomkins Johnson DivJackson · 2 mi away · NPDES MI0028134Recent violation
- Wolverine Metal SpecialtiesJackson · 2 mi away · NPDES MI0036633Recent violation
- Lefere Forge & MachineJackson · 4.1 mi away · NPDES MI0053031Recent violation
- Jackson Precision Die CastingJackson · 4.1 mi away · NPDES MIG250330Recent violation
- Diecast CorpJackson · 4.4 mi away · NPDES MI0005754Recent violation
- Shell Oil Co-Jackson,MichiganJackson · 4.4 mi away · NPDES MI0036668Recent 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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-09-15
Monitoring stations: 1