Barton Lake West Basin; Schoolcraft Township is a mesotrophic lake in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Kalamazoo County, Barton Lake West Basin; Schoolcraft Township ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Barton Lake West Basin; Schoolcraft Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 7.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.8 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Barton Lake West Basin; Schoolcraft Township
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Fishing Barton Lake West Basin; Schoolcraft Township
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.125 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.15 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Barton Lake West Basin; Schoolcraft Township averages about 62°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 63°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 488 field readings (2016–2019) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Barton Lake West Basin; Schoolcraft Township water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 12 lakes in Kalamazoo County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Barton Lake West Basin; Schoolcraft Township holds Grade B. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- AFishers Lake North Central Basin; Park TownshipSt. Joseph County · 7.3 mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- BIndian Lake Central Basin; Brady TownshipKalamazoo County · 4.2 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- BPaw Paw Lake East Central Basin; Texas TownshipKalamazoo County · 11.6 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Kalamazoo County
Explore Barton Lake West Basin; Schoolcraft Township across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Kalamazoo 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
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Barton Lake West Basin; Schoolcraft Township is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040500010503-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.83 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Barton Lake West Basin; Schoolcraft Township under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Vicksburg MS4-KalamazooVicksburg · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MI0060183Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-24
Monitoring stations: 1