Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Van Buren County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 14 other monitored lakes in Van Buren County, Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 1.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.8 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township
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Fishing Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.9 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 84 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 15 lakes in Van Buren County
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 16 ft
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 16 ft
Cass County · Clarity: 13 ft
Cass County · Clarity: 16 ft
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 10.5 ft
Allegan County · Clarity: 14 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2023-09-21
Monitoring stations: 1