Budd Lake
Clare County, Michigan173 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.
- Impaired · Pathogens (E. coli, fecal)
- 30 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Budd Lake in Clare County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 173.2 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.5 ft
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 173 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Budd 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 Budd Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
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.
Why Budd Lake has no grade
Budd 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, Budd Lake is Not Rated — not an F. Its 13.5-foot median from 11 readings collected 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.
Budd Lake is a 173-acre lake in Clare County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 30 feet. 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.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Budd Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13.5 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water30 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Not ratedBacteria advisory
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Budd Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Budd Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft. TSI 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 173 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Budd LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
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 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
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)
Graded lakes near Budd Lake
Budd Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Clare County
Frequently asked questions about Budd Lake
Where is Budd Lake?
- Budd Lake is a lake in Clare 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 Budd Lake?
- Budd Lake in Clare County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 173.2 acres.
Is Budd Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Budd Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Budd Lake?
- Budd Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 173.2 acres.
What fish are in Budd Lake?
- Fish species found in Budd Lake include Blackchin shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Iowa darter, Largemouth bass. Budd Lake is located in Clare County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Budd Lake?
- Budd Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Budd Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Budd Lake across LakeQuality
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
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Lakes in Michigan
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
11 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS11 samples · 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory