Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Van Buren County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including Blackchin shiner, Blacknose shiner, and Bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 14 other monitored lakes in Van Buren County, Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 17 ft down. Chlorophyll-a: 3.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.8 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township
- → Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +3.345 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.3 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township averages about 59°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Sep (about 65°F) and coldest in Jun (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 335 field readings (2021–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 15 lakes in Van Buren County
Nearby Lakes in Van Buren County
Explore Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Van Buren County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Allegan County · Clarity: 14 ft
Cass County · Clarity: 16 ft
Cass County · Clarity: 13 ft
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 16 ft
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 16 ft
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 10.5 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
Most recent sample: 2023-09-25
Monitoring stations: 1