Blue Lake
Whitley County, Indiana246 acresView mapDirections
IDEM publishes the water-quality measurements for Blue Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 46 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Blue Lake in Whitley County, Indiana has water-quality measurements published by IDEM, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45.9 ft. Surface area: 246 acres.
Blue Lake is a 246-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Whitley County, Indiana with a maximum depth of 46 feet (21-foot average). Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, IDEM, last sampled 2024-08-27. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Blue Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Deep water45.9 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Blue Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Blue Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Blue Lake
These are the measurements IDEM publishes for Blue Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 8 µg/L.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 36µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 8µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Blue Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Lake Details
Max depth
45.9 ft
Average depth
21 ft
Surface area
246 acres
Shoreline
4 mi
Public access
Yes
Listed by IDEM
Recreation & Access
- Harrold's LandingPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
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Stays near Blue Lake
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Fishing Blue Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Blue Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit INB04P1032_00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Whitley County
Frequently asked questions about Blue Lake
Where is Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake is a lake in Whitley County, Indiana. Its water-quality measurements are published by IDEM and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake in Whitley County, Indiana has water-quality measurements published by IDEM, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45.9 ft. Surface area: 246 acres.
Is Blue Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Blue Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake has a maximum depth of 45.9 feet and an average depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 246 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Harrold's Landing. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Indiana's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Blue Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
Measurements for Blue Lake come from the EPA Water Quality Portal. Per-sample source details are not recorded for this lake.
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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