Otter Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Oakland County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 30 documented fish species including Bigmouth shiner, Black bullhead, and Black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Oakland County, Otter Lake ranks #23 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2021-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Otter Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Otter Lake
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Otter Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 70 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #23 of 45 lakes in Oakland County
Nearby Lakes in Oakland County
Explore Otter Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Oakland 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 B Lakes in Michigan
Genesee County · Clarity: 12 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 12 ft
Livingston County · Clarity: 12 ft
Livingston County · Clarity: 12 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 10 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 10 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Otter Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040900050104-06 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.71 km)
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: 2021-09-18
Monitoring stations: 1