Paw Paw Lake
Kalamazoo County, Michigan123 acresView mapDirections
Not Rated: one monitoring station are on record, but they measured water clarity only. LakeQuality’s A–F method grades total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity; clarity is shown, not scored.
- 50 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Paw Paw Lake in Kalamazoo County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 123.4 acres.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Max depth
- 50 ft
- Area
- 123 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Paw Paw Lake’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Paw Paw Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 50 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Paw Paw Lake has no grade
Paw Paw Lake has monitoring on record from one station, but only water clarity was measured. LakeQuality’s A–F letter uses total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity against EPA National Lakes Assessment condition classes. With none of those grading measurements on record, Paw Paw Lake is Not Rated — not an F. Its 9-foot median from 25 readings collected 2021–2022 is still shown as clarity, but clarity alone cannot earn a letter.
Not Rated is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Paw Paw Lake is a 123-acre lake in Kalamazoo County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 50 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Bluegill, Bowfin, and Brook silverside. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Paw Paw Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing4 species recorded
- Deep water50 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Paw Paw Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. TSI 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 50 ft |
| Surface Area | 123 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Paw Paw LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Paw Paw Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.885 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Graded lakes near Paw Paw Lake
Paw Paw Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Kalamazoo County
Frequently asked questions about Paw Paw Lake
Where is Paw Paw Lake?
- Paw Paw Lake is a lake in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Paw Paw Lake?
- Paw Paw Lake in Kalamazoo County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 123.4 acres.
Is Paw Paw Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Paw Paw Lake?
- Paw Paw Lake has a maximum depth of 50 feet. The lake covers 123.4 acres.
What fish are in Paw Paw Lake?
- Fish species found in Paw Paw Lake include Bluegill, Bowfin, Brook silverside, Grass pickerel. Paw Paw Lake is located in Kalamazoo County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Paw Paw Lake?
- Paw Paw Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Paw Paw Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
25 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS25 samples · 2021–2022
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory