Clam Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Antrim County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Muskellunge. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Antrim County, Clam Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2024-07-17. 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 12.1 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.1 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Clam Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Clam Lake in Antrim 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 Clam Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.146 m/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Clam Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 8 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 6 lakes in Antrim County
Nearby Lakes in Antrim County
Explore Clam Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Antrim County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Grand Traverse Region area
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 B Lakes in Michigan
Charlevoix County · Clarity: 10 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 13 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 12 ft
Kalkaska County · Clarity: 12.5 ft
Kalkaska County · Clarity: 12.5 ft
Charlevoix County · Clarity: 11.5 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Clam 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 MI040601050304-08 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.95 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Clam Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Butchs Tackle And MarineBellaire · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MIG081132
- Butchs Tackle & MarineBellaire · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MIG080002
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: 2024-07-17
Monitoring stations: 1