Perch Lake
Otsego County, Michigan62 acresView mapDirections
EGLE publishes the water-quality measurements for Perch Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
Perch Lake in Otsego County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L. Surface area: 61.8 acres.
Perch Lake is a 62-acre mesotrophic lake in Otsego County, Michigan. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Perch Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.3 ft of visibility
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Perch Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Perch Lake
These are the measurements EGLE publishes for Perch Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.3 ft. Phosphorus 8.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.3 µg/L. TSI 40.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 11.3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 8.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 3.3µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 40 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Perch Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (56°F) to its warmest (72°F).
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
Surface area
62 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by EGLE
No bathymetric survey has been published for Perch Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Perch Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Perch Lake in Otsego County, Michigan — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Perch Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Perch Lake
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2017–2023).
Water clarity
Improving2 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+0.82 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.17 µg/L/yr3 years
Nearby Lakes in Otsego County
Frequently asked questions about Perch Lake
Where is Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake is a lake in Otsego County, Michigan. Its water-quality measurements are published by EGLE and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake in Otsego County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are 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.
Can I fish at Perch Lake?
- Public access to Perch Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Michigan's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Perch Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Otsego County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its readings
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.