Baldwins Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Cass County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 33 documented fish species including Blackchin shiner, Blacknose shiner, and Blackside darter. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Baldwins Lake ranks #18 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Baldwins Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Baldwins Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Baldwins Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.562 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.35 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Baldwins Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 55 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #18 of 23 lakes in Cass County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Baldwins Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Explore Baldwins Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Cass County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Michigan
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 6 ft
Kalamazoo County · Clarity: 9 ft
Kalamazoo County · Clarity: 8 ft
Van Buren County · Clarity: 8 ft
Kalamazoo County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Baldwins Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040500011303-05 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.23 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-09-23
Monitoring stations: 1