Deer Lake
Deer Lake in Oakland County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 132.1 acres.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Max depth
- 63 ft
- Area
- 132 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Why Deer Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Deer Lake, 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. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. 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.
Deer Lake is a 132-acre lake in Oakland County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 63 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Lake herring.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2019-09-21. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Deer Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Deer Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Deer Lake in Oakland 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Deer Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 63 ft |
| Surface Area | 132 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Deer Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.131 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.3 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.16 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Graded lakes near Deer Lake
Deer Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Oakland County
Frequently asked questions about Deer Lake
Where is Deer Lake?
- Deer Lake is a lake in Oakland 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 Deer Lake?
- Deer Lake in Oakland County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 132.1 acres.
Is Deer Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Deer Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Deer Lake?
- Deer Lake has a maximum depth of 63 feet. The lake covers 132.1 acres.
What fish are in Deer Lake?
- Fish species found in Deer Lake include Lake herring. Deer Lake is located in Oakland County, Michigan.
Explore Deer Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
74 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2019. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS74 samples · 2016–2019
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)