Perch Lake
Otsego County, Michigan62 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #2 of 6 in the county
- Public access
Perch Lake in Otsego County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L. Surface area: 61.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.3 ft
- Typical in September
- 69°F
- Area
- 62 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 8.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 3.3 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Perch Lake’s letter
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Perch Lake is a 62-acre mesotrophic lake in Otsego County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Otsego County, Perch Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-01. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Perch Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.3 ft of visibility
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.3 ft. Phosphorus 8.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.3 µg/L. TSI 40. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 8.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Perch Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 72°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 95 field readings (2022–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Perch Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 62 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +6.04 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.82 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.17 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 6 lakes in Otsego County
Nearby Lakes in Otsego County
Frequently asked questions about Perch Lake
Where is Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake is a lake in Otsego County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake in Otsego County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L. Surface area: 61.8 acres.
Is Perch Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September, from 95 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
What fish are in Perch Lake?
- Fish species found in Perch Lake include Bluegill. Perch Lake is located in Otsego County, Michigan.
Explore Perch Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
42 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2017–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS42 samples · 2017–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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.