Late afternoon sun over Slim Lake, scattering a bright path across wind-textured water

Chippewa County Lake Quality

Michigan, 75 lakes, average grade D (Nutrient-rich)

Chippewa County in Michigan carries 75 monitored lakes — one of the lake-richer counties in our dataset. Coverage that dense usually reflects active lake-association sampling alongside state-agency monitoring. 4 of those lakes carry an A–F grade. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. On average, Chippewa County lakes grade D, with phosphorus loading and reduced clarity showing up across most of the dataset.

Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. North Pond (C) is the cleanest in the county.

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Quick Answers for Chippewa County

Cleanest lakes in Chippewa County →Cleanest lakes in Michigan →Safest swimming lakes in Michigan →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for North Pond, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official Michigan fishing regulations.

Fishing in Chippewa County

Chippewa County Fishing Guide

Fish species and best-graded lakes in Chippewa County

All Lakes in Chippewa County

75 lakes · 4 graded, 71 not rated4 graded lakes · 71 not rated, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (71)

#	Lake	Grade	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	CNorth PondChippewa	C	1.3 ft	39 µg/L	13.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
2	CSpectacle LakeChippewa	C	No recent samples	29 µg/L	9.8 µg/L	No recent samples	5 ft	Not recorded
3	DSouth PondChippewa	D	1.4 ft	38 µg/L	25.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
4	FCommunity College PondChippewa	F	1.6 ft	37.5 µg/L	37.3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRSugar Island LakeChippewa	NR	8.2 ft	23.7 µg/L	3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRMcnearney LakeChippewa	NR	18.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	Not recorded
	NRMonocle LakeChippewa	NR	16 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	55 ft	Not recorded
	NRBrowns LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	Not recorded
	NRMarsh LakesChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	21 ft	Not recorded
	NRShelldrake LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	7 ft	✓ Public
	NRBear LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	Not recorded
	NRSheephead LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	28 ft	Not recorded
	NRPendills LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	33 ft	Not recorded
	NRPiatt LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	58 ft	Not recorded
	NRDuck lakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRHulbert LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	69 ft	Not recorded
	NRMud LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	24 ft	Not recorded
	NRBetchler LakesChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	31 ft	Not recorded
	NRTrout LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	35 ft	✓ Public
	NRFrenchman LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public
	NRWegwaas LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	Not recorded
	NRGrand Marias LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRDawson LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRSecond LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRCarlton LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	15 ft	Not recorded
	NRFirst LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRForeman LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	18 ft	Not recorded
	NRFourth LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRZiegler LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	21 ft	Not recorded
	NRCaribou LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	15 ft	✓ Public
	NRMarl LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRFulmer LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	16 ft	Not recorded
	NRLoyal LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRStringham LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBig Trout LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	17 ft	Not recorded
	NRDry LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRMiller LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRParish LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRCranberry LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	15 ft	Not recorded
	NRBoot LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBaileys LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRPats LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRDickenson LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRVanio LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRGravel LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBass LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRPine LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLittle Trout LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRFirst LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRMaki LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBeaver Dam PondChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRClear LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBeaver PondChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRToivola LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRKnutsen LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRJones LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRPats LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRSpring PondChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRKinross LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRGarkinghouse LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRSylvester ImpoundmentChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRJohnson LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBobbygay LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRCamp Ten PondChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBoaz LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLittle Trout LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRDeerfoot LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLittle Mud LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRCamp Ten LakesChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLaurie LakesChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLittle LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRAndrus LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRThe WidewatersChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRTwomile LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRWeatherhogs LakeChippewa	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded

NR = not rated: there is not enough recent sampling to support a letter. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.

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Other Counties in Michigan

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43 lakes · Avg grade A

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47 lakes · Avg grade A

Ogemaw County

50 lakes · Avg grade A

Cheboygan County

31 lakes · Avg grade A

Roscommon County

26 lakes · Avg grade A

Gladwin County

29 lakes · Avg grade A

See how Chippewa County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.