Clear Lake
Jackson County, Michigan130 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #3 of 4 in the county
- 34 ft max depth
- Limited data
Clear Lake in Jackson County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 129.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.5 ft
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 130 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 9 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 3.6 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Watch Clear Lake’s letter
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Clear Lake is a 130-acre mesotrophic lake in Jackson County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including Black crappie, Blackchin shiner, and Blacknose shiner. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Clear Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Clear Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10.5 ft of visibility
- Fishing17 species recorded
- Deep water34 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Phosphorus 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.6 µg/L. TSI 41. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 130 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Clear Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.33 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.36 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.8 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Jackson County
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Frequently asked questions about Clear Lake
Where is Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake is a lake in Jackson County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake in Jackson County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 129.5 acres.
Is Clear Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 129.5 acres.
What fish are in Clear Lake?
- Fish species found in Clear Lake include Black crappie, Blackchin shiner, Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Bowfin, Brown bullhead, Grass pickerel, Green sunfish, Iowa darter, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Redear sunfish, Rock bass, Spottail shiner, Western banded killifish, Yellow bullhead. Clear Lake is located in Jackson County, Michigan.
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Where this data comes from
108 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS108 samples · 2016–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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.