Carter Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Barry County, Michigan. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including Black crappie, Bluegill, and Brown bullhead. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Barry County, Carter Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Carter Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Carter Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +4.41 m/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Carter Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 20 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 14 lakes in Barry County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Carter Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Barry County
Explore Carter Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Barry County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Michigan
Kalamazoo County · Clarity: 4 ft
Kent County · Clarity: 6.3 ft
Kent County · Clarity: 6.3 ft
Branch County · Clarity: 3.5 ft
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 4.5 ft
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 5 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Carter 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 MI040500070404-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.76 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
6 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Carter Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Hastings Sanitary ServiceHastings · 0.9 mi away · NPDES MI0050199Recent violation
- Hastings WwtpHastings · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MI0020575Recent violation
- Tubergen Dairy Farm South-CafoHastings · 3.8 mi away · NPDES MI0060342Recent violation
- Hastings Manufacturing CompanyHastings · 1.9 mi away · NPDES MIG250433
- Bliss Clearing NiagaraHastings · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MI0003646
- R & J #4-Citgo Gas StationHastings · 3.2 mi away · NPDES MIG081046
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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: 2022-09-16
Monitoring stations: 1