What is the water quality grade for Cedar Lake?

Cedar Lake in Alcona County, Wisconsin received a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility.

Is Cedar Lake safe to swim in?

Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Cedar Lake has an overall water quality grade of C. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

What fish are in Cedar Lake?

Fish species found in Cedar Lake include Black bullhead, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Brown bullhead, Central mudminnow, Common shiner, Emerald shiner, Fathead minnow, Golden shiner, Iowa darter, Johnny darter, Largemouth bass, Mimic shiner, Northern pike, Northern redbelly dace, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Sand shiner, Smallmouth bass, Tadpole madtom, Western banded killifish, Yellow perch. Cedar Lake is located in Alcona County, Wisconsin.

Cedar Lake

Alcona County, WisconsinLimited DataMesotrophic

Cedar Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Alcona County, MI. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 22 documented fish species including Black bullhead, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Alcona County, Cedar Lake ranks #8 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2022-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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

Fish Species

Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.

→ Best fishing times for Cedar Lake (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Cedar Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)

→ Cedar Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #8 of 8 lakes in Alcona County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

Cedar Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.

See full comparison →

Nearby Lakes in Alcona County

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Hubbard Lake Central Basin

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Hubbard Lake

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Jewell Lake West Basin

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Cedar Lake Central Basin; Greenbush Township Section 27

Alcona County

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Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin

Shavehead Lake East Basin; Porter Township

Cass County · Clarity: 7 ft

Brooks Lake

Leelanau County · Clarity: 9.5 ft

Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township

Iosco County · Clarity: 5.5 ft

White Lake

Muskegon County · Clarity: 6.8 ft

Little Lake Twenty

Gladwin County · Clarity: 9 ft

East Twin Lake

Montmorency County · Clarity: 9 ft

Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin

Middle Lake; Elba Township; Section 13 Portage Lake Shavehead Lake East Basin; Porter Township Chippewa Lake Northeast Basin; Chippewa Township

EPA Impairment Status

Cedar Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

PFAS

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040700030406-03 · Official waterbody report

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Most recent sample: 2022-09-10

Monitoring stations: 1