Brown Lake
Jackson County, Michigan146 acresView mapDirections
Not Rated: one monitoring station are on record, but they measured water clarity only. LakeQuality’s A–F method grades total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity; clarity is shown, not scored.
- Public access
- Limited data
Brown Lake in Jackson County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Surface area: 146.1 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Area
- 146 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Brown Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Brown Lake in Jackson 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 Brown Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Watch Brown Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Why Brown Lake has no grade
Brown Lake has monitoring on record from one station, but only water clarity was measured. LakeQuality’s A–F letter uses total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity against EPA National Lakes Assessment condition classes. With none of those grading measurements on record, Brown Lake is Not Rated — not an F. Its 7.5-foot median from 98 readings collected 2016–2022 is still shown as clarity, but clarity alone cannot earn a letter.
Not Rated is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. 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.
Brown Lake is a 146-acre lake in Jackson County, Michigan. Water clarity 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.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Brown Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing6 species recorded
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Brown Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. TSI 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 146 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Brown Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Brown Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.25 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.59 µg/L/yr | 6 |
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.
Graded lakes near Brown Lake
Brown Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Frequently asked questions about Brown Lake
Where is Brown Lake?
- Brown Lake is a lake in Jackson County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — 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.
What is the water quality grade for Brown Lake?
- Brown Lake in Jackson County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Surface area: 146.1 acres.
Is Brown Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What fish are in Brown Lake?
- Fish species found in Brown Lake include Common shiner, Creek chub, Hornyhead chub, Smallmouth bass, White sucker, Yellow perch. Brown Lake is located in Jackson County, Michigan.
Explore Brown Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Jackson County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Irish Hills area
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Lakes in Michigan
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
98 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS98 samples · 2016–2022
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)