Indian Lake
Kalamazoo County, MichiganView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #6 of 7 in the county
- Public access
Indian Lake in Kalamazoo County, Michigan has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 37.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 7.2 ft
- Typical in September
- 62°F
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 37.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 2.2 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Indian Lake
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Watch Indian Lake’s letter
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Indian Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Lake herring. Public access is available. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Kalamazoo County, Indian Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2025-11-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Based on E. coli testing, Indian Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 11 samples across 8 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Michigan’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.2 ft. Phosphorus 37.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.2 µg/L. TSI 48. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 37.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Indian Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 70°F) and coldest in Jan (about 38°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 722 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Indian Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 10 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.13 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +12.25 µg/L/yr | 8 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.75 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 7 lakes in Kalamazoo County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Indian Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Kalamazoo County
Frequently asked questions about Indian Lake
Where is Indian Lake?
- Indian Lake is a lake in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Indian Lake?
- Indian Lake in Kalamazoo County, Michigan has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 37.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L.
Is Indian Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Indian Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 11 samples across 8 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Indian Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Michigan's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Indian Lake?
- Indian Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September, from 722 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
What fish are in Indian Lake?
- Fish species found in Indian Lake include Lake herring. Indian Lake is located in Kalamazoo County, Michigan.
Explore Indian Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
473 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan (Gun Lake)
GNLK01_WQX473 samples · 2016–2025
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity in Water
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.