Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township
Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township in Van Buren County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 84 ft. Surface area: 275.1 acres.
- Clarity
- 14 ft
- Max depth
- 84 ft
- Area
- 275 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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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.
Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township is a 275-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Van Buren County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 84 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Van Buren County, Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-21. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Phosphorus level: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township in Van Buren County, Michigan — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 84 ft |
| Surface Area | 275 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.35 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.35 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.15 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 6 lakes in Van Buren County
Nearby Lakes in Van Buren County
Frequently asked questions about Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township
Where is Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township?
- Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township is a lake in Van Buren County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township?
- Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township in Van Buren County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 84 ft. Surface area: 275.1 acres.
Is Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township?
- Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township has a maximum depth of 84 feet. The lake covers 275.1 acres.
Explore Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township across LakeQuality
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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Cass County · 12.3 ft
Kalamazoo County · 8 ft
Cass County · 8 ft
Kalamazoo County · 9.5 ft
St. Joseph County · Excellent
Allegan County · 9 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
41 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS41 samples · 2016–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)