Chain Lake
Chain Lake in Chippewa County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 74 ft. Surface area: 454 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Chain Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 8.2 ft
- Max depth
- 74 ft
- Area
- 454 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Chain 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 Chain 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 WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Chain Lake is a 454-acre lake in Chippewa County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 74 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-03. 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 Chain Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.2 ft. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Chain Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Chain Lake in Chippewa County, Wisconsin — 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 Chain Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Chain Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (285,759 cells/mL) on May 23, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Chain Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Chain Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 74 ft |
| Surface Area | 454 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Chain Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.387 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.05 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Chain 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 WI10003389 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.2 km)
Graded lakes near Chain Lake
Chain Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Chippewa County
Frequently asked questions about Chain Lake
Where is Chain Lake?
- Chain Lake is a lake in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Chain Lake?
- Chain Lake in Chippewa County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 74 ft. Surface area: 454 acres.
Is Chain Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Chain 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 Chain Lake?
- Chain Lake has a maximum depth of 74 feet. The lake covers 454 acres.
What fish are in Chain Lake?
- Fish species found in Chain Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Chain Lake is located in Chippewa County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Chain Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Chain Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Chain Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Chain Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Chain Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (285,759 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Explore Chain Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Chippewa County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Lakes in the Chippewa River Watershed, ranked by water quality
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Where this data comes from
39 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX39 samples · 2020–2026
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes