Christiana Lake Central Basin; Ontwa Township is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cass County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Christiana Lake Central Basin; Ontwa Township ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Christiana Lake Central Basin; Ontwa 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 7 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 8.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.4 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Christiana Lake Central Basin; Ontwa Township
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Fishing Christiana Lake Central Basin; Ontwa Township
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +3.38 m/yr | 2 |
Water Temperature
Christiana Lake Central Basin; Ontwa Township averages about 66°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 68°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 502 field readings (2012–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Christiana Lake Central Basin; Ontwa Township water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 23 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
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Fish species and best lakes in Cass County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Van Buren County · Clarity: 11.5 ft
Kalamazoo County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 10.5 ft
Kalamazoo County · Clarity: 8 ft
Kalamazoo County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Allegan County · Clarity: 14 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Christiana Lake Central Basin; Ontwa 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 MI040500011403-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.44 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: 2023-09-16
Monitoring stations: 1