Cavanaugh Lake, Washtenaw County, MI: Depth Map, Fishing & Water Quality

Where it is

4 miles west of Chelsea

Washtenaw County, Michigan · 42.3171° N, 84.1011° W

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The Michigan DNR lists no public access site on Cavanaugh Lake; much of the shore may be private.

Today on the lake

Updated 14 Oct 2026, 6:19 pm EDT. Get alerts for Cavanaugh Lake

WEATHERTonight: partly cloudy, 46°F, wind NE 6 mph. Thursday: rain likely, 62°F, wind E 5 to 8 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.

ALGAEToo small for satellite monitoring (under 1 km²). No bloom reports on record with Michigan DHHS.

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

6 contours, 5 to 19 ft

05910121719feet

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

Size and depth

197 acres · deepest 19 ft (measured) · shoreline about 2.4 mi · clarity about 9 ft

Cavanaugh Lake is the 10th largest of the 84 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Washtenaw County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 33rd deepest of the 45 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 32 of the other 66 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 2.4 miles along the state outline. About 10% of its area is deeper than 10 ft.

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

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Cavanaugh Lake 1 times since 2011. The most recent stocking was 400 hybrid sunfish on 28 April 2011. Species stocked: hybrid sunfish.

28 Apr 2011STOCKED400 hybrid sunfish

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 1905: central mudminnow, pumpkinseed, rock bass. Historic records, not a current survey.

Michigan Fish Atlas.

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 9 ft (Secchi depth 2.8 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 9.3 ft of 19 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

The area around Cavanaugh Lake

42 other lakes of 10+ acres within about 6 miles of Cavanaugh Lake, 3 with a page here (darker blue). Sources: Michigan DNR, US Census Bureau.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Doyle Lake10 ft deep · 0.6 mi · Washtenaw County

Mill Lake25 ft deep · 0.8 mi · Washtenaw County

Little Cedar Lake18 ft deep · 0.8 mi · Washtenaw County

Crooked Lake20 ft deep · 0.9 mi · Washtenaw County

Cedar Lake27 ft deep · 1.1 mi · Washtenaw County

Walsh Lake21 ft deep · 1.8 mi · Washtenaw County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Cavanaugh Lake?

Cavanaugh Lake is 19 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 197 acres.

Is Cavanaugh Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 1 times since 2011, most recently 400 hybrid sunfish on 28 April 2011.

How much of Cavanaugh Lake is deeper than 10 feet?

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