Kalamazoo County Lake Quality
Michigan, 12 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Kalamazoo County has 12 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. The county average is C — the middle of the rubric, with one or two lakes pulling the average up or down depending on year.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Indian Lake Central Basin; Brady Township (B); the most-stressed is Woods Lake (D).
Quick Answers for Kalamazoo County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Indian Lake Central Basin; Brady Township, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official Michigan fishing regulations.
Fishing in Kalamazoo County
All Lakes in Kalamazoo County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Lake Central Basin; Brady Township | B | 9.5 ft | - |
| 2 | Gull Lake | B | 12.5 ft | - |
| 3 | Paw Paw Lake East Central Basin; Texas Township | B | 9.5 ft | - |
| 4 | Indian Lake | B | 7.2 ft | 34 µg/L |
| 5 | Boot Lake | B | 7 ft | 46 µg/L |
| 6 | Barton Lake West Basin; Schoolcraft Township | B | 8 ft | - |
| 7 | Indian Lake | C | 9.5 ft | - |
| 8 | Barton Lake | C | 8 ft | - |
| 9 | Paw Paw Lake | C | 9 ft | - |
| 10 | Woods Lake Northeast Central Basin; Kalamazoo | C | 4 ft | - |
| 11 | Woods Lake | D | 4 ft | - |
Other Counties in Michigan
See how Kalamazoo County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 15 states.
Where to stay near Kalamazoo County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.