Woods Lake Northeast Central Basin; Kalamazoo is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Kalamazoo County, Woods Lake Northeast Central Basin; Kalamazoo ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Woods Lake Northeast Central Basin; Kalamazoo 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 4 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 10 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Woods Lake Northeast Central Basin; Kalamazoo
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Fishing Woods Lake Northeast Central Basin; Kalamazoo
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +3.26 m/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.75 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Woods Lake Northeast Central Basin; Kalamazoo averages about 54°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 57°F) and coldest in Apr (about 45°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 266 field readings (2016–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Woods Lake Northeast Central Basin; Kalamazoo water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 12 lakes in Kalamazoo County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Woods Lake Northeast Central Basin; Kalamazoo holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BPaw Paw Lake East Central Basin; Texas TownshipKalamazoo County · 9.8 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
- BIndian Lake Central Basin; Brady TownshipKalamazoo County · 10 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
Nearby Lakes in Kalamazoo County
Explore Woods Lake Northeast Central Basin; Kalamazoo across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Kalamazoo County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Michigan
Van Buren County · Clarity: 8 ft
Van Buren County · Clarity: 8.3 ft
Van Buren County · Clarity: 8 ft
Barry County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Allegan County · Clarity: 6.2 ft
Cass County · Clarity: 8.3 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Michigan
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
20 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Woods Lake Northeast Central Basin; Kalamazoo under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 2 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 15 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Kalamazoo WwtpKalamazoo · 3.8 mi away · NPDES MI0023299MajorRecent violation
- Pharmacia & Upjohn-Portage RdKalamazoo · 4.3 mi away · NPDES MI0002941MajorRecent violation
- Wmu MS4-KalamazooKalamazoo · 1.3 mi away · NPDES MI0060092Recent violation
- Strebor IncKalamazoo · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MI0044288Recent violation
- Kalamazoo Ps MS4-KalamazooKalamazoo · 2 mi away · NPDES MI0059866Recent violation
- Greenleaf Holdings LlcKalamazoo · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MIG250136Recent 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
Most recent sample: 2023-09-24
Monitoring stations: 1