Cranberry Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Oakland County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including Black bullhead, Black crappie, and Blackchin shiner. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Oakland County, Cranberry Lake ranks #35 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 7.3 ft. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.3 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Cranberry Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cranberry Lake
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 & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Cranberry Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 25 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #35 of 45 lakes in Oakland County
Nearby Lakes in Oakland County
Explore Cranberry Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Oakland 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
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
EPA Impairment Status
Cranberry Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040900030101-05 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.9 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Cranberry Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Independence Twp MS4-OaklandClarkston · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MI0060154Recent violation
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)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-09-10
Monitoring stations: 1