Perch Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Iron County, Michigan. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 38 other monitored lakes in Iron County, Perch Lake ranks #38 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-08-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -1.56 m/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.1 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Perch Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 14 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #38 of 39 lakes in Iron County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Perch Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Iron County
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Other Grade D Lakes in Michigan
Gogebic County · Clarity: 4 ft
Gogebic County · Clarity: 4 ft
Gogebic County · Clarity: 4.5 ft
Gogebic County · Clarity: 4.5 ft
Gogebic County · Clarity: 5 ft
Gogebic County · Clarity: 4.5 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Perch Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040201040104-05 · Official waterbody report
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-08-29
Monitoring stations: 1