Little Paw Paw Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Berrien County, Michigan. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality 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. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Berrien County, Little Paw Paw Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-04. 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 ft. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Little Paw Paw Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Paw Paw Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.37 m/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Little Paw Paw Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 90 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Berrien County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Little Paw Paw Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Berrien County
Explore Little Paw Paw Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Berrien 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
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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Michigan
Eutrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Little Paw Paw Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040500012505-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.21 km)
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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2023-09-04
Monitoring stations: 1