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LakeQuality

Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township

B
Grade B — Good
Good · #15 of 21 lakes in the county · 20 ft clear · Oligotrophic · 1,083 acres · from A
Limited DataOligotrophic

Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township in Iron County, Michigan has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 110 ft. Surface area: 1082.5 acres.

Clarity
20 ft
Max depth
110 ft
Area
1,083 acres
Type
Oligotrophic
Trend
Declining

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Free interactive depth-contour map of Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 110 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.

Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township is a 1,083-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Iron County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 110 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Lake whitefish. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Iron County, Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township ranks #15 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-08-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Grade only

Limited data

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.

Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels

Compare the safest swimming lakes near Eagle River

Get alerts for Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township

Water Quality Grade: B (Good)

Crystal clear, you can see 20 ft down. Phosphorus level: 9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 35.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)20 ftNot graded
Phosphorus9 µg/LGood
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No recent samples
Trophic State Index (TSI)35Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Where to stay near Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township in Iron 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.

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Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth110 ft
Surface Area1,083 acres

Fish Species

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

Fishing Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township

Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Stable+0.185 m/yr5
Phosphorus Declining+0.29 µg/L/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

EPA Impairment Status

Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).

Causes of impairment

Mercury

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040301060405-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.29 km)

County Ranking

Ranked #15 of 21 lakes in Iron County

Nearby Lakes in Iron County

Frequently asked questions about Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township

Where is Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township?

Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township is a lake in Iron County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.

What is the water quality grade for Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township?

Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township in Iron County, Michigan has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 110 ft. Surface area: 1082.5 acres.

Is Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township safe to swim in?

Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

How deep is Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township?

Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township has a maximum depth of 110 feet. The lake covers 1082.5 acres.

What fish are in Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township?

Fish species found in Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township include Lake whitefish. Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township is located in Iron County, Michigan.

Where this data comes from

65 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2017–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.

Collected and reported by

  • Michigan EGLE - MiCorps21MICH_MICORPS65 samples · 2017–2023

Analytical methods

  • Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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