Templene Lake Central Basin; Sherman Township is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Joseph County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in St. Joseph County, Templene Lake Central Basin; Sherman Township ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Templene Lake Central Basin; Sherman Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 6.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.7 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Templene Lake Central Basin; Sherman Township
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Fishing Templene Lake Central Basin; Sherman Township
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.36 m/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +5.9 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 13 lakes in St. Joseph County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Templene Lake Central Basin; Sherman Township holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in St. Joseph County
Explore Templene Lake Central Basin; Sherman Township across LakeGrade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Templene Lake Central Basin; Sherman Township under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Marvin Mountain Poultry-CafoCentreville · 3.2 mi away · NPDES MI0059997Recent violation
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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: 2023-09-16
Monitoring stations: 1