Van Buren County · Michigan

Van Auken Lake

Soundings in feet · 253 acres · deepest 45 ft

Today on the lake

Updated 9 Oct 2026, 3:31 am EDT. Get alerts for Van Auken Lake

WEATHEROvernight: mostly clear, 44°F, wind SSE 1 mph. Friday: partly sunny, 70°F, wind S 1 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.

ALGAENo cyanobacteria detected by satellite on 6 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

LAUNCHESVan Auken 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

9 contours, 5 to 45 ft

051015202530354045feet

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

Size and depth

253 acres · deepest 45 ft (measured) · shoreline about 3.8 mi · clarity about 5 ft

Van Auken Lake is the 7th largest of the 104 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Van Buren County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 13th deepest of the 35 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 15 of the other 85 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 3.8 miles along the state outline. About 44% of its area is deeper than 25 ft.

Ranks against Van Buren 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 Van Auken Lake.

Van Auken Lake · Van Buren State Park · Open

1 ramp lane · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required

Local boating rules, Van Buren County

Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Van Auken Lake 10 times since 1982. The most recent stocking was 600 walleye on 23 October 2015. Species stocked: northern pike, walleye.

10 stockings, 1982 to 2015, log scale

Latest: 23 Oct 2015: 600 walleye.

23 Oct 2015STOCKED600 walleye

4 Nov 1994STOCKED745 northern pike

9 Jun 1993STOCKED2,500 northern pike

8 May 1991STOCKED5,000 northern pike

30 May 1989STOCKED1,000 northern pike

13 Apr 1988STOCKED175,000 northern pike

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

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 5 ft (Secchi depth 1.7 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 5.4 ft of 45 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Van Auken LakeWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Van Auken Lake 10 times since 1982, most recently 600 walleye on 23 October 2015. None in the last five years.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. It has not happened in 2026.Any lake in Van Buren CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 1 email.

Van Auken Lake has had no stockings or algae records in 2026, so its own alerts would have sent nothing this year. The county alert is on by default.

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

Rush Lake58 ft deep · 1.3 mi · Van Buren County

Hall Lake35 ft deep · 5.3 mi · Van Buren County

Paw Paw Lake90 ft deep · 5.6 mi · Berrien County

Shafer Lake70 ft deep · 6.0 mi · Van Buren County

Reynolds Lake30 ft deep · 10.2 mi · Van Buren County

Lower Jeptha Lake40 ft deep · 10.2 mi · Van Buren County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Van Auken Lake?

Van Auken Lake is 45 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 253 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Van Auken Lake?

Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Van Auken Lake.

Is Van Auken Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 10 times since 1982, most recently 600 walleye on 23 October 2015.

How much of Van Auken Lake is deeper than 10 feet?

About 74% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.