Lake Templene is a 870-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Joseph County, Michigan. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in St. Joseph County, Lake Templene ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-16. 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 6.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 870 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake Templene
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Fishing Lake Templene
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.36 m/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +5.9 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 13 lakes in St. Joseph County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Templene holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in St. Joseph County
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Templene is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Templene Dam (completed 1972), built primarily for recreation on the Prairie River; earth-type dam, 18 ft tall and 850 ft long.
- Surface area
- 870 ac
- Normal storage
- 5,225 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 8,550 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 111 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Lake Templene POA
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00470 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Lake Templene under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Lear Corp-MendonMendon · 3.5 mi away · NPDES MI0004006
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)
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: 2022-09-16
Monitoring stations: 1