Budd Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Clare County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Blackchin shiner, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Clare County, Budd Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.5 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Budd Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Budd Lake in Clare 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.
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Budd Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +5.74 m/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Budd Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 30 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 12 lakes in Clare County
Nearby Lakes in Clare County
Explore Budd Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Clare County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Budd Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040802010306-04 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.82 km)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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: 2022-09-07
Monitoring stations: 1