Rose Lake
Branch County, MichiganView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Oxygen depletion (low DO)
- #1 of 1 in the county
Rose Lake in Branch County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Typical in September
- 63°F
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 10.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 3.3 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Watch Rose Lake’s letter
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Rose Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Branch County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Rose Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10 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. Rose Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.3 µg/L. TSI 41. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Rose Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 58°F. Usually warmest in Sep (about 63°F) and coldest in Mar (about 41°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 334 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Rose Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Rose Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.051 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Rose Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040500010107-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.04 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Rose Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Mdot-Coldwater Welcome CenterColdwater · 2.2 mi away · NPDES MIG960014
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Branch County
Nearby Lakes in Branch County
Frequently asked questions about Rose Lake
Where is Rose Lake?
- Rose Lake is a lake in Branch County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Rose Lake?
- Rose Lake in Branch County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L.
Is Rose Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Rose Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Rose Lake?
- Rose Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in September, from 334 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
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Where this data comes from
84 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2019–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS84 samples · 2019–2023
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.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)