Great Bear Lake North Basin; Bloomingdale Township is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Van Buren County, Michigan. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 14 other monitored lakes in Van Buren County, Great Bear Lake North Basin; Bloomingdale Township ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Great Bear Lake North Basin; Bloomingdale Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Great Bear Lake North Basin; Bloomingdale Township
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Fishing Great Bear Lake North Basin; Bloomingdale Township
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.705 m/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 15 lakes in Van Buren County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Great Bear Lake North Basin; Bloomingdale Township holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Great Bear Lake North Basin; Bloomingdale Township is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040500020206-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.56 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Great Bear Lake North Basin; Bloomingdale Township under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Bloomingdale Village WwtpBloomingdale · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MI0058842Recent violation
- Pullman Industries IncBloomingdale · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MIG250384Recent 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)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2023-09-19
Monitoring stations: 1