Cedar Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Alcona County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 22 documented fish species including Black bullhead, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Alcona County, Cedar Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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
Where to stay near Cedar Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cedar Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.294 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.3 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Cedar Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 10 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 8 lakes in Alcona County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Cedar Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Alcona County
Explore Cedar Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Alcona County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Michigan
Iosco County · Clarity: 5.5 ft
Montmorency County · Clarity: 9 ft
Gladwin County · Clarity: 9.3 ft
Roscommon County · Clarity: 6.8 ft
Lapeer County · Clarity: 7.5 ft
Lapeer County · Clarity: 7 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
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
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040700030406-03 · Official waterbody report
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: 2022-09-10
Monitoring stations: 1