Center Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Kosciusko County, Indiana. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Kosciusko County, Center Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Indiana DNR, last sampled 2021-08-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Center Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Center Lake frequently exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 20.8% of 24 samples across 3 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Indiana’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.7 ft. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.7 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Center Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Center Lake in Kosciusko County, Indiana — 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Center Lake
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Fishing Center Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.066 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.05 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 19 lakes in Kosciusko County
Nearby Lakes in Kosciusko County
Explore Center Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Indiana
Fish species and best lakes in Kosciusko County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Indiana's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Indiana Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Indiana
Mesotrophic Lakes in Indiana
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Center 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 INB06P1008_00 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
47 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Center Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 3 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 7 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Warsaw WwtpWarsaw · 1.3 mi away · NPDES IN0060917MajorRecent violation
- Phoenix Warsaw Industrial Investors LlcWarsaw · 2.1 mi away · NPDES IN0003387MajorRecent violation
- Warsaw #1 WwtpWarsaw · 0.9 mi away · NPDES IN0024805Major
- Warsaw Foundry Company, Inc.Warsaw · 0.3 mi away · NPDES IN0063487Recent violation
- Zimmer Biomet Incorporated Corporate Office BuildingWarsaw · 0.6 mi away · NPDES IN0064907Recent violation
- Zimmer Manufacturing Building 19Warsaw · 1.3 mi away · NPDES IN0064909Recent 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: 2021-08-09
Monitoring stations: 1