Papoose Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including Blacknose shiner, Central mudminnow, and Golden shiner. Compared to the 23 other monitored lakes in Kalkaska County, Papoose Lake ranks #17 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 20 ft down. Trophic State Index: 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 20 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Papoose Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Papoose Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.224 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +4.85 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Papoose Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 17 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #17 of 24 lakes in Kalkaska County
Nearby Lakes in Kalkaska County
Explore Papoose Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-09-17
Monitoring stations: 1