Palmer Lake Central Basin; Colon Township is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Joseph County, Michigan. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2023. 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 12 other monitored lakes in St. Joseph County, Palmer Lake Central Basin; Colon Township ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Palmer Lake Central Basin; Colon Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 21 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 21 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Palmer Lake Central Basin; Colon Township
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Fishing Palmer Lake Central Basin; Colon Township
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.54 m/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Palmer Lake Central Basin; Colon Township averages about 77°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in Apr (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 29 field readings (2010–2017) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Palmer Lake Central Basin; Colon Township water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Palmer Lake Central Basin; Colon Township, 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 #11 of 13 lakes in St. Joseph County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Palmer Lake Central Basin; Colon Township holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in St. Joseph County
Explore Palmer Lake Central Basin; Colon Township across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in St. Joseph 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
Palmer Lake Central Basin; Colon Township 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 MI040500010404-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.51 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: 2023-09-16
Monitoring stations: 1