Chippewa Lake
Chippewa Lake in Mecosta County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 784.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 11 ft
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 785 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Chippewa Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 40 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Chippewa Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Chippewa Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Chippewa Lake is a 785-acre lake in Mecosta County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 21 documented fish species including Black crappie, Blackchin shiner, and Blacknose shiner. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-03. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Chippewa Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Chippewa Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Chippewa Lake in Mecosta 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Chippewa Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 785 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Haymarsh LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Chippewa Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 8 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.55 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.5 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.16 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Chippewa Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040802020104-03 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Chippewa Lake
Chippewa Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Mecosta County
Frequently asked questions about Chippewa Lake
Where is Chippewa Lake?
- Chippewa Lake is a lake in Mecosta County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Chippewa Lake?
- Chippewa Lake in Mecosta County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 784.8 acres.
Is Chippewa Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Chippewa Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Chippewa Lake?
- Chippewa Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 784.8 acres.
What fish are in Chippewa Lake?
- Fish species found in Chippewa Lake include Black crappie, Blackchin shiner, Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Brown bullhead, Golden shiner, Grass pickerel, Iowa darter, Johnny darter, Largemouth bass, Longnose gar, Northern logperch, Northern longear sunfish, Pugnose shiner, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Smallmouth bass, White sucker, Yellow bullhead, Yellow perch. Chippewa Lake is located in Mecosta County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Chippewa Lake?
- Chippewa Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Haymarsh Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Chippewa Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
88 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS88 samples · 2016–2022
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory