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Natoma Gardner · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lakes → California → Clear Lake

Clear Lake

California · Natural · near Lakeport

43,800 acres 60 ft deep 4 ft clarity Water D

Compare

5.2SCORE

Survey summary · California

43,800

Surface acres

60 ft

Max depth

100 mi

Shoreline

4 ft

Typical clarity

1,329 ft

Elevation

Photographs of Clear Lake via Wikimedia Commons. Credit and licence on each image — hover to view, click through to the source.

Clear Lake covers 43,800 acres in California and drops to 60 feet at its deepest point. It is a natural lake, which generally means a more stable shoreline and fewer drawdown surprises than an impoundment. Level is unusually stable, which protects dock usability and shoreline appearance year round. Clarity is limited, which is typical of productive fisheries but worth seeing in person if you are swimming daily. Short-term rental posture: Allowed with permit. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.

What stands out

Very stable water level year-round
Large open water, 43,800 acres
Bass fishing
Boating

Watch outs

Nutrient-rich water; seasonal algae blooms are possible

Score breakdown

Water 2.8

Recreation 6.3

Value 3.5

Access 7.3

Investment 7.4

Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.

Water quality grade

Water A

ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.

Water B

GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.

Water C

FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.

Water D

PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.

Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.

Overall score, 1–10

8.0+

ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.

7.0–7.9

StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.

6.0–6.9

SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.

5.0–5.9

MixedReal strengths and real compromises.

Under 5

CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.

Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.

Fishery

Largemouth bassCatfishCrappieBluegill

On the water

Bass fishingBoatingBirding

No USGS gauge on this lake. We only publish a station when its own name matches this water body. Nearby gauges on other lakes would look like data and mislead you, so we show nothing instead. Why we do that.

4.18 ft

Gage height

2026-08-04

Gauge history

Daily values from USGS. Loading up to one year.

Where it is

True shoreline from USGS NHD 160 km²

The outline is this lake's actual boundary from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset, not an approximation — 565 boundary points. Basemap is USGS topographic with contours and hydrography. Switch layers at the top right.

Depth profile

Idealized cross-section. Max depth 60 ft, average 19 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.

Level behaviour

Level stabilityStable Typical drawdown3 ft Drawdown seasonAutumn Trophic stateHypereutrophic Typical clarity4 ft Water quality gradeD Elevation1,329 ft Managing authorityLake County

Dock & shoreline

Permitting authorityLake County Wake / speed rulesOpen water

A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with Lake County that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.

Short-term rental posture

Allowed with permit

Generally permitted, but rules change. Confirm the specific municipality and any HOA covenant.

Model rental income →

Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.

$845,000

Median waterfront

$4,095

Per shoreline foot

-3.3%

Year over year

293

Est. inventory

Avg days on market

$761

Est. nightly rate

Rental snapshot

Modeled occupancy59% Booked nights / yr155 Gross revenue$126,959 Net operating income$65,001 Yield on median price7.69%

Open the full model →

What a median-priced home on Clear Lake actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.

$6,824

All-in per month

$192,530

Cash to close + setup

$16,035

Beyond P&I, tax, insurance

Where the annual cost goes

Principal & interest $53,426 (66%) Maintenance reserve (1.1%) $9,295 (12%) Property taxes $8,872 (11%) Hazard insurance $3,549 (4%) Utilities $2,700 (3%) Shoreline / seawall reserve $960 (1%) Dock maintenance $900 (1%) Winterization / seasonal close $750 (1%)

Annual carry

Principal & interest	$53,426
Property taxes	$8,872
Hazard insurance	$3,549
Flood insurance	$650
Utilities	$2,700
Maintenance reserve (1.1%)	$9,295
Septic service	$520
Well & water testing	$260
Dock maintenance	$900
Winterization / seasonal close	$750
Shoreline / seawall reserve	$960
Total	$81,882