Townsend Lake is a 26-acre (11 ha) lake in Independence Township in Oakland County, Michigan along the main branch of the Clinton River.

[3] Townsend Lake connects upstream to 66-acre (27 ha) Van Norman Lake and downstream to 135-acre (55 ha) Woodhull Lake.

[4] Townsend Lake was named for Townsend Carpenter Beardslee (b.

[5] The son of John W. Beardslee (the first settler in Independence Township), Townsend was the first white child born in the township.

[6] Fish in Townsend Lake include pumpkinseed sunfish, largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike and crappie.