Perch Lake is a 125-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hillsdale County, Michigan. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Bluegill. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Hillsdale County, Perch Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2021-08-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 125 acres |
Where to stay near Perch Lake
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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 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.4 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 7 lakes in Hillsdale County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Perch Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Hillsdale County
Explore Perch Lake across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Hillsdale County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Michigan
Jackson County · Clarity: 2.8 ft
Jackson County · Clarity: 3 ft
Washtenaw County · Clarity: 3 ft
Washtenaw County · Clarity: 3 ft
Washtenaw County · Clarity: 3 ft
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 3 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
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 (0.3 km)
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: 2021-08-19
Monitoring stations: 1