Palmer Lake Central Basin; Colon Township
St. Joseph County, WisconsinEutrophic
Palmer Lake Central Basin; Colon Township is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Joseph County, MI. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2023. 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, local state DNR records, last sampled 2023-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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
Location
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
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
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)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-16
Monitoring stations: 1