James Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Kosciusko County, Indiana. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Kosciusko County, James Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Indiana DNR, last sampled 2021-08-11. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 5.3 ft. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.3 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near James Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near James Lake in Kosciusko County, Indiana — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Fishing James Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.03 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.2 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of James Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 60 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Indiana DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 19 lakes in Kosciusko County
Nearby Lakes in Kosciusko County
Explore James Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Indiana
Fish species and best lakes in Kosciusko County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Northern Indiana Lake Country area
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Indiana's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Indiana Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Indiana
Eutrophic Lakes in Indiana
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
James Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit INB06P1056_00 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
6 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of James Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- North Webster WwtpNorth Webster · 1.2 mi away · NPDES IN0040444Recent violation
- Camp Crosley YmcaNorth Webster · 0.4 mi away · NPDES INR10J396
- Camp Crosley Recreation Area: Phase Ii GradingNorth Webster · 0.4 mi away · NPDES INR10L374
- Indiana Baptist Convention FoundationNorth Webster · 0.6 mi away · NPDES INR10H655
- Lake Tippecanoe/James Lake Dredging Dewatering BasinsSyracuse · 0.8 mi away · NPDES INR10J244
- Lake Tippecanoe Ducunee/Neibert Dredging Dewatering BasinLeesburg · 1 mi away · NPDES INRA00480
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2021-08-11
Monitoring stations: 1