Papoose Lake
Kalkaska County, Michigan13 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Oligotrophic
- #13 of 13 in the county
- Limited data
Papoose Lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 22 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Surface area: 13.3 acres.
- Clarity
- 22 ft
- Area
- 13 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Papoose Lake is a 13-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2023. 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 12 other monitored lakes in Kalkaska County, Papoose Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-08. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Papoose Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water22 ft of visibility
- Fishing7 species recorded
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 B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Crystal clear, you can see 22 ft down. Phosphorus 10 µg/L. TSI 35. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 22 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
The available depth estimate for Papoose Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Papoose Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 8 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.888 m/yr | 8 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.02 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.41 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 13 lakes in Kalkaska County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Papoose Lake holds Grade B. 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 Kalkaska County
Frequently asked questions about Papoose Lake
Where is Papoose Lake?
- Papoose Lake is a lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Papoose Lake?
- Papoose Lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 22 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Surface area: 13.3 acres.
Is Papoose Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Papoose Lake?
- The available depth estimate for Papoose Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown. The lake covers 13.3 acres.
What fish are in Papoose Lake?
- Fish species found in Papoose Lake include Blacknose shiner, Central mudminnow, Golden shiner, Iowa darter, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Yellow perch. Papoose Lake is located in Kalkaska County, Michigan.
Explore Papoose Lake across LakeQuality
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Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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Where this data comes from
48 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS48 samples · 2016–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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.