Perch Lake
Hillsdale County, Michigan125 acresView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — 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. No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- Public access
- Limited data
Perch Lake in Hillsdale County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Surface area: 125 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Area
- 125 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Perch Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Perch Lake, 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. Sampling here has recorded water clarity and phosphorus, but not algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. 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.
Perch Lake is a 125-acre lake in Hillsdale County, Michigan. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Bluegill. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-03-21. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Perch Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 15 µg/L. TSI 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 125 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Perch Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Perch Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.71 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.8 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Perch Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Crystal Lake Dam (completed 1976), built primarily for recreation on the Trib to Grand River; earth-type dam, 10 ft tall and 100 ft long.
- Surface area
- 125 ac
- Normal storage
- 90 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 290 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Hillsdale County Drain Commissioner
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00956 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.35 km)
Graded lakes near Perch Lake
Perch Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Hillsdale County
Frequently asked questions about Perch Lake
Where is Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake is a lake in Hillsdale 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 Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake in Hillsdale County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Surface area: 125 acres.
Is Perch Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What fish are in Perch Lake?
- Fish species found in Perch Lake include Bluegill. Perch Lake is located in Hillsdale County, Michigan.
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Where this data comes from
10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS10 samples · 2021–2022
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.