Yellow Creek Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Kosciusko County, Indiana. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Bluegill, Carp, and Catfish. Public access is available. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Kosciusko County, Yellow Creek Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Indiana DNR, last sampled 2021-08-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Yellow Creek Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Yellow Creek Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.5 m/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #15 of 19 lakes in Kosciusko County
Nearby Lakes in Kosciusko County
Explore Yellow Creek Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Other Grade F Lakes in Indiana
Eutrophic Lakes in Indiana
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Yellow Creek 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 INB06P1078_00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.31 km)
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 Yellow Creek Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Yellow Creek CampgroundClaypool · 0.4 mi away · NPDES IN0056456
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2021-08-09
Monitoring stations: 1