Branch County · Michigan

Coldwater Lake

Soundings in feet · 1,581 acres · deepest 90 ft

Today on the lake

Updated 9 Oct 2026, 3:37 am EDT. Get alerts for Coldwater Lake

WEATHEROvernight: mostly clear, 44°F, wind 0 mph. Friday: mostly sunny, 70°F, wind S 0 to 5 mph.

WARNINGSNo weather or fire warnings in effect.

FIRENo wildfires or prescribed burns reported within 25 miles.

BURNINGCampfires and debris burning: check today's status with Michigan DNR.

ALGAECAUTION Satellite detected cyanobacteria across about 10% of the lake on 5 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

LAUNCHESColdwater Lake: listed open. Michigan DNR record updated 3 Apr 2026.

National Weather Service; National Interagency Fire Center; U.S. EPA CyAN satellite; Michigan DHHS; Michigan DNR. Weather, warnings, fires and satellite refresh when you open the page (checked at most hourly).

Depth map

10 contours, 5 to 90 ft

05102030405060708090feet

Michigan DNR survey, fetched 7 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.

Size and depth

1,581 acres · deepest 90 ft (measured) · shoreline about 13.9 mi · clarity about 7 ft

Coldwater Lake is the largest of the 76 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Branch County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the deepest of the 22 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 30 of the other 62 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 13.9 miles along the state outline. About 100% of its area is deeper than 40 ft.

Ranks against Branch County lakes in Michigan hydrography, Michigan DNR lake surveys and Michigan EGLE satellite clarity; shoreline measured from the state outline. How we measure

Getting on the water

1 public access site on Coldwater Lake.

Coldwater Lake · Open

2 ramp lanes · 61 trailer spaces · vault toilet · accessible restroom · Recreation Passport required

Local boating rules, Branch County

Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Coldwater Lake 48 times since 1980. The most recent stocking was 2,000 walleye on 6 November 2025. Species stocked: tiger muskellunge, walleye.

48 stockings, 1980 to 2025, log scale

Latest: 6 Nov 2025: 2,000 walleye.

6 Nov 2025STOCKED2,000 walleye

6 Nov 2024STOCKED2,500 walleye

10 Nov 2023STOCKED2,500 walleye

21 Oct 2022STOCKED1,500 walleye

16 May 2012STOCKED77,638 walleye

7 Jun 2011STOCKED20,855 walleye

Source: Michigan DNR Fisheries, fetched 7 Oct 2026. How we measure

Where the deep water is

Show water deeper than

Measured from Michigan DNR contours. How we measure

Historically recorded species, from records through 1967: black crappie, blacknose shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, brook silverside, brown bullhead, iowa darter, lake herring, largemouth bass, longnose gar, northern logperch, pumpkinseed, rock bass, striped shiner, western banded killifish, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Historic records, not a current survey.

Michigan Fish Atlas.

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 7 ft (Secchi depth 2.1 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 7.0 ft of 90 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Coldwater LakeWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Coldwater Lake 48 times since 1980, most recently 2,000 walleye on 6 November 2025. None so far in 2026.When algae is reported or testedMichigan DHHS has no records for this lake yet. We email when the first one is posted.When satellite sees a bloom startEPA satellite, checked daily, June to October. We email when a bloom first shows on two clear days, not every day it stays. In 2026 that happened on 28 Sep.Any lake in Branch CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 5 emails.

In 2026 so far, these alerts would have sent you 1 email about Coldwater Lake: 28 Sep.

Email address

At most one email a week per lake. We email you a link to confirm before any alert is sent; every email has a one-click unsubscribe.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

East Long Lake45 ft deep · 2.7 mi · Branch County

Silver Lake40 ft deep · 2.8 mi · Branch County

Loon Lake16 ft deep · 3.8 mi · Branch County

Lake of The Woods70 ft deep · 4.0 mi · Branch County

George lake82 ft deep · 4.5 mi · Branch County

Lake Bartholomew56 ft deep · 5.0 mi · Branch County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Coldwater Lake?

Coldwater Lake is 90 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 1,581 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Coldwater Lake?

Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Coldwater Lake.

Is Coldwater Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 48 times since 1980, most recently 2,000 walleye on 6 November 2025.

How much of Coldwater Lake is deeper than 10 feet?

About 50% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.