Cub Lake
Kalkaska County, Michigan57 acresView mapDirections
Not Rated: one monitoring station are on record, but they measured water clarity only. LakeQuality’s A–F method grades total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity; clarity is shown, not scored.
- 23 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Cub Lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 57.4 acres.
- Clarity
- 17.5 ft
- Max depth
- 23 ft
- Area
- 57 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Cub Lake’s letter
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Why Cub Lake has no grade
Cub Lake has monitoring on record from one station, but only water clarity was measured. LakeQuality’s A–F letter uses total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity against EPA National Lakes Assessment condition classes. With none of those grading measurements on record, Cub Lake is Not Rated — not an F. Its 17.5-foot median from 44 readings collected 2016–2022 is still shown as clarity, but clarity alone cannot earn a letter.
Not Rated is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Cub Lake is a 57-acre lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 23 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, and Largemouth bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Cub Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water17.5 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Cub Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 17.5 ft down. TSI 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 23 ft |
| Surface Area | 57 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Cub LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cub Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.48 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.4 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.09 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Cub Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Flowing Well Trout FarmKalkaska · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MI0036692
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.
Graded lakes near Cub Lake
Cub Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Kalkaska County
Frequently asked questions about Cub Lake
Where is Cub Lake?
- Cub Lake is a lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Cub Lake?
- Cub Lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 57.4 acres.
Is Cub Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Cub Lake?
- Cub Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake covers 57.4 acres.
What fish are in Cub Lake?
- Fish species found in Cub Lake include Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Largemouth bass, Pumpkinseed, Yellow perch. Cub Lake is located in Kalkaska County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Cub Lake?
- Cub Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cub Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
44 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS44 samples · 2016–2022
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.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory