Palmer Lake
St. Joseph County, Michigan497 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #8 of 8 in the county
- 40 ft max depth
- Limited data
Palmer Lake in St. Joseph County, Michigan has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 21 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 497.3 acres.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Typical in August
- 68°F
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 497 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 19 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 21 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Palmer Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Palmer Lake in St. Joseph 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Palmer Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Palmer Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Palmer Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 40 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Palmer Lake is a 497-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Joseph County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in St. Joseph County, Palmer Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Palmer Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Deep water40 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Palmer Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 21 µg/L. TSI 58. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 21 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Palmer Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. 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 water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 497 acres |
Fishing Palmer Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.205 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.17 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.03 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Palmer 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 MI040500010404-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.51 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 8 lakes in St. Joseph County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Palmer Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in St. Joseph County
Frequently asked questions about Palmer Lake
Where is Palmer Lake?
- Palmer Lake is a lake in St. Joseph County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Palmer Lake?
- Palmer Lake in St. Joseph County, Michigan has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 21 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 497.3 acres.
Is Palmer Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Palmer Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Palmer Lake?
- Palmer Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August, from 29 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2017). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Palmer Lake?
- Palmer Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 497.3 acres.
Explore Palmer Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
37 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS37 samples · 2022–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database