Kimball Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Newaygo County, Michigan. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 20 documented fish species including Black crappie, Blackchin shiner, and Bluegill. Compared to the 16 other monitored lakes in Newaygo County, Kimball Lake ranks #16 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-17. 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 4.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.5 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Kimball Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Kimball Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.073 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.05 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Kimball Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 40 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #16 of 17 lakes in Newaygo County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Kimball Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Newaygo County
Explore Kimball Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Newaygo County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Michigan
Ottawa County · Clarity: 3.5 ft
Kent County · Clarity: 6.3 ft
Kent County · Clarity: 6.3 ft
Muskegon County · Clarity: 1 ft
Oceana County · Clarity: 6.5 ft
Barry County · Clarity: 4.5 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Kimball 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 MI040601020903-02 · Official waterbody report
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-09-17
Monitoring stations: 1