Great Bear Lake
Van Buren County, MichiganView 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.
- Limited data
Great Bear Lake in Van Buren County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility.
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Trend
- → Stable
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Watch Great Bear Lake’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Great Bear Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 35 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Great Bear Lake has no grade
Great Bear 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, Great Bear Lake is Not Rated — not an F. Its 8-foot median from 46 readings collected 2021–2023 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.
Great Bear Lake is a lake in Van Buren County, Michigan. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Great Bear Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing8 species recorded
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Great Bear Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. TSI 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Great Bear Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.214 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +8 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Great Bear Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Paw Paw WwtpPaw Paw · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MI0021741Recent violation
- Minute Maid Co-Paw PawPaw Paw · 1.9 mi away · NPDES MIG250286Recent violation
- Refresco Beverages Us Inc-Paw PawPaw Paw · 1.9 mi away · NPDES MI0056367Recent 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.
Graded lakes near Great Bear Lake
Great Bear Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Van Buren County
Frequently asked questions about Great Bear Lake
Where is Great Bear Lake?
- Great Bear Lake is a lake in Van Buren 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 Great Bear Lake?
- Great Bear Lake in Van Buren County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility.
Is Great Bear Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What fish are in Great Bear Lake?
- Fish species found in Great Bear Lake include Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Iowa darter, Largemouth bass, Warmouth, Yellow bullhead, Yellow perch. Great Bear Lake is located in Van Buren County, Michigan.
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Where this data comes from
46 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS46 samples · 2021–2023
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)