Big Chapman Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Kosciusko County, Indiana. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Bluegill, Northern Pike, and Redear. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Kosciusko County, Big Chapman Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Indiana DNR, last sampled 2021-08-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.9 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Big Chapman Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Chapman Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.775 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Big Chapman Lake averages about 78°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Jun (about 73°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 22 field readings (2012–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Big Chapman Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Big Chapman Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 35 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Indiana DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 19 lakes in Kosciusko County
Nearby Lakes in Kosciusko County
Explore Big Chapman Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Indiana
Fish species and best lakes in Kosciusko County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Indiana's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Indiana Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Indiana
Mesotrophic Lakes in Indiana
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Big Chapman 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 INB06P1071_00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.62 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
8 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Big Chapman Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Suburban Acres Mobile Home ParkWarsaw · 1.6 mi away · NPDES IN0025208Recent violation
- Meck'S Whispering Pines Ii, LlcWarsaw · 2.8 mi away · NPDES IN0054704Recent violation
- Lakeland Regional Sewer DistrictWarsaw · 2.9 mi away · NPDES IN0064131Recent violation
- Storage Condominium BuildingsWarsaw · 0.5 mi away · NPDES INRA06896
- Tenney & Sons, IncWarsaw · 1 mi away · NPDES INL000001
- Suburban Acres Mhp WwtpWarsaw · 1.6 mi away · NPDES IN0030945
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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2021-08-10
Monitoring stations: 1