Center Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Center Lake is mapped to a depth of 20 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 754 acres in Jackson County, Michigan.
Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey (depths read from the survey's isobath field; this lake's summary-depth column is blank in the source).
- Deepest mapped contour
- 20 ft
- Mean depth
- 2.8 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 754 acres
- Estimated volume
- 2,121 acre-ft · 691M gal
- Shoreline
- 9.69 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 25% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Launch
Additional depth details4 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–20 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 20 ft
97.4% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft. Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.
Compare with another lakeProvenance
Sources: MI DNR inland lake contours, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL), MI DNR Boat Launches.
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Map details & sources5 sources
All layers registered to one bounding box; positions in WGS 84.
Survey-derived depth contours drape over USGS 3DEP elevation, with a USDA NAIP aerial basemap and OpenStreetMap shoreline. Colour shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.
- Coordinates
- 42.21385, -84.31527
- MI DNR lake ID
- L5819
- Vertical exaggeration
- 3.0×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.4 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-08-21Center Lake has a mixed natural and developed setting, moderate open-water exposure, substantial nearby higher-volume roads. No special watercraft restriction is identified in the current source.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Mixed | 12.4 of 30 | 57% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (6% forest, 50% wetland; 35% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Good | 10.5 of 25 | mean fetch 1,644 m · 5% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · moderate open-water fetch |
| Watercraft controls | None identified | 7.5 of 15 | No special watercraft restriction identified in the current DNR source. Motors permitted, subject to general law. |
| Public access | Good | 12.8 of 15 | 1 site with DNR boating-facility records · 1 ramp lane · 30 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Modest | 0.8 of 15 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 125 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 13,210 vehicles/day |
Additional paddling considerations
These describe the lake but are not part of the v1 Paddling Index and do not change the number above.
- Wake sensitivity
- Low — wide enough that wakes disperse over most of the lake
- Aquatic vegetation
- Moderate — approximately 25% mapped coverage · NAIP aerial imagery (NDVI)
- Observed motorized activity
- Unknown — No lake-level measurement of boat traffic is available. Legal permission to operate motors is not evidence of use.
- Wildlife habitat potential
- Moderate — 6% forest and 50% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches & active stocking6 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colours, not photographs (provenance).
Northern Pikestocked
Common Carp
Bowfin
Channel Catfish
Largemouth Bass
CrappieHistorically stocked, no recent evidence: Tiger Muskellunge (last planted 1983) — not shown above.
Fishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 6 species found here — 6 open to harvest.
These are hook-and-line size, daily limit and season rules. Gear, spearing and bow fishing, spawning closures and rod limits are set by other Fisheries Orders and are not shown here.
From FO-206.26 (eff. 2026-04-01) / FO-215.23A (eff. 2023-09-15) / FO-254.25 (eff. 2025-10-10), checked against the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations digest · verified 2026-08-24. Regulations can change — Michigan DNR rules are the controlling source; verify current regulations before fishing. Official regulations
Notable catches
Master Angler program · 2003–2025Trophy-size fish anglers caught here and registered with the DNR — what people have actually caught, distinct from what a survey netted or the state stocked below.
Biggest on record
Bait: corn (22) · artificial lure (3) · live bait (3)
Method: still fishing (27) · spincasting (5) · bowfishing (2)
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 1981–1992Fish the Michigan DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
No stockings recorded since 1992 — shown as history.
Non-native species records
8 recordsMussels & snails
- Freshwater Golden Clam
- Zebra Mussel
Plants & algae
- Common Reed
- Eurasian Watermilfoil
- Narrow-leaved Cattail
- Purple Loosestrife
- Starry Stonewort
- Yellow Iris
What does non-native mean?
USGS records identify non-native species that have been documented for this lake or its shoreline. Non-native does not necessarily mean invasive, and historical records do not confirm current presence.
Source: Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership Conservation Planner; underlying nonindigenous species records from the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database.
At the lake
community-mapped amenities · straight-line distanceBait & tackle nearby
licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distanceCenter Lake — common questions
How deep is Center Lake?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Center Lake is 20 ft. That is the deepest depth the historical survey map records, which may differ from the deepest point of the lake itself.
How big is Center Lake?
Center Lake covers about 754 acres in Jackson County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Center Lake?
The estimated mean depth of Center Lake is 2.8 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Center Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, bowfin, crappie, common carp. The page shows the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Center Lake?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 2 public access sites on Center Lake, including Leoni Township Park.
