Painter Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cass County, Michigan. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Painter Lake ranks #21 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-24. 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
Where to stay near Painter Lake
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Fishing Painter Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +3.38 m/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #21 of 23 lakes in Cass County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Painter Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Explore Painter Lake across LakeGrade
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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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Other Grade D Lakes in Michigan
Berrien County · Clarity: 5 ft
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 5 ft
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 6.5 ft
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 4.5 ft
Van Buren County · Clarity: 6.5 ft
Kalamazoo County · Clarity: 4 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Painter Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040500011403-05 · 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: 2022-09-24
Monitoring stations: 1