Fish Lake
Van Buren County, Michigan34 acresView mapDirections
Not Rated: one monitoring station are on record, but they measured water clarity only. LakeQuality’s A–F method grades total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity; clarity is shown, not scored.
- 20 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Fish Lake in Van Buren County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 34.1 acres.
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Max depth
- 20 ft
- Area
- 34 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Fish Lake’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Fish Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 20 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Fish Lake has no grade
Fish Lake has monitoring on record from one station, but only water clarity was measured. LakeQuality’s A–F letter uses total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity against EPA National Lakes Assessment condition classes. With none of those grading measurements on record, Fish Lake is Not Rated — not an F. Its 8-foot median from 106 readings collected 2016–2022 is still shown as clarity, but clarity alone cannot earn a letter.
Not Rated is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Fish Lake is a 34-acre lake in Van Buren County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 20 feet. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Lake herring. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Fish Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Fish Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. TSI 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 34 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Fish LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Fish Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.323 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.74 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Fish Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Mdnr-Wolf Lake Fish HatcheryMattawan · 2.4 mi away · NPDES MI0035734Recent 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.
Graded lakes near Fish Lake
Fish Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Van Buren County
Frequently asked questions about Fish Lake
Where is Fish Lake?
- Fish Lake is a lake in Van Buren County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Fish Lake?
- Fish Lake in Van Buren County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 34.1 acres.
Is Fish Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Fish Lake?
- Fish Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 34.1 acres.
What fish are in Fish Lake?
- Fish species found in Fish Lake include Lake herring. Fish Lake is located in Van Buren County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Fish Lake?
- Fish Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fish Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Fish Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
106 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS106 samples · 2016–2022
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory