Great Bear Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Van Buren County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2021. 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 ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2021-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.8 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Great Bear Lake
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Fishing Great Bear Lake
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 & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Great Bear Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 58 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 15 lakes in Van Buren County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Great Bear Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Van Buren County
Explore Great Bear Lake 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
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Michigan
Allegan County · Clarity: 9 ft
Allegan County · Clarity: 8.5 ft
Kalamazoo County · Clarity: 9 ft
Kalamazoo County · Clarity: 4 ft
Allegan County · Clarity: 6.2 ft
Cass County · Clarity: 8.3 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Great Bear Lake 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
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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: 2021-09-09
Monitoring stations: 1