Cranberry Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Independence Township is a mesotrophic lake in Oakland County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including Black bullhead, Black crappie, and Blackchin shiner. Public access is available. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Oakland County, Cranberry Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Independence Township ranks #32 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Cranberry Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Independence Township water quality
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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 Cranberry Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Independence Township
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cranberry Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Independence Township
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- → Is it safe to eat fish from Cranberry Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Independence Township? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +3.14 m/yr | 3 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #32 of 45 lakes in Oakland County
Nearby Lakes in Oakland County
Explore Cranberry Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Independence Township across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Oakland County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade C Lakes in Michigan
Lapeer County · Clarity: 9 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 1.8 ft
Livingston County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 9 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 3.8 ft
Lapeer County · Clarity: 7 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Cranberry Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Independence Township under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Clarkston Ps MS4-OaklandClarkston · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MI0060239Recent violation
- Clarkston MS4-OaklandClarkston · 1.4 mi away · NPDES MI0060157
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-15
Monitoring stations: 1