Little Paw Paw Lake West Central Basin; Coloma Township is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Berrien County, Michigan. Water quality is graded F 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 2 other monitored lakes in Berrien County, Little Paw Paw Lake West Central Basin; Coloma Township ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2021-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Little Paw Paw Lake West Central Basin; Coloma Township water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Little Paw Paw Lake West Central Basin; Coloma Township
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Paw Paw Lake West Central Basin; Coloma Township in Berrien County, Michigan — 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Little Paw Paw Lake West Central Basin; Coloma Township
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Little Paw Paw Lake West Central Basin; Coloma Township?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Little Paw Paw Lake West Central Basin; Coloma Township — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Fishing Little Paw Paw Lake West Central Basin; Coloma Township
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
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Berrien County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Little Paw Paw Lake West Central Basin; Coloma Township holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Berrien County
Explore Little Paw Paw Lake West Central Basin; Coloma Township 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
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Michigan
Van Buren County · Very Poor
Cass County · Very Poor
Allegan County · Clarity: 3 ft
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 3 ft
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 3 ft
Ottawa County · Clarity: 3 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Little Paw Paw Lake West Central Basin; Coloma Township 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 (2.26 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Little Paw Paw Lake West Central Basin; Coloma Township under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Paw Paw Lake Area WwtpColoma · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MI0023779MajorRecent violation
- Ravine View EstatesColoma · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MIG570105
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: 2021-09-15
Monitoring stations: 1