Emerald Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Kent County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including Black crappie, Blacknose shiner, and Bluegill. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Kent County, Emerald Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 5.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.3 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Emerald Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Emerald Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.44 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.5 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 18 lakes in Kent County
Nearby Lakes in Kent County
Explore Emerald Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Kent County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
9 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Emerald Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Kent Cdc MS4Grand Rapids · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MI0060112Recent violation
- Ibp FoodsGrand Rapids · 3.2 mi away · NPDES MIG250155Recent violation
- Spectrum-Gr-PlymouthGrand Rapids · 3.3 mi away · NPDES MIG250440Recent violation
- Grand Rapids MS4Grand Rapids · 4.9 mi away · NPDES MI0053872Recent violation
- Grand Rapids Twp MS4-KentGrand Rapids · 2.4 mi away · NPDES MI0060110
- Macdonalds Ind-Oak IndustrialGrand Rapids · 3.3 mi away · NPDES MI0057568
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-18
Monitoring stations: 1