Great Bear Lake South Basin; Bloomingdale Township is a mesotrophic lake in Van Buren County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 14 other monitored lakes in Van Buren County, Great Bear Lake South Basin; Bloomingdale Township ranks #13 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 South Basin; Bloomingdale Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Great Bear Lake South Basin; Bloomingdale Township
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Great Bear Lake South Basin; Bloomingdale Township
- → Great Bear Lake South Basin; Bloomingdale Township fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Great Bear Lake South Basin; Bloomingdale Township fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Great Bear Lake South Basin; Bloomingdale Township? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -1 m/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Great Bear Lake South Basin; Bloomingdale Township, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 35 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 15 lakes in Van Buren County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Great Bear Lake South Basin; Bloomingdale Township holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Van Buren County
Explore Great Bear Lake South Basin; Bloomingdale Township across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Van Buren 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
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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Michigan
Kalamazoo County · Clarity: 9 ft
Allegan County · Clarity: 9 ft
Allegan County · Clarity: 8.5 ft
Cass County · Clarity: 8.3 ft
Kalamazoo County · Clarity: 4 ft
Cass County · Clarity: 7 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Great Bear Lake South Basin; Bloomingdale Township 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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
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