Chain Lake
Chain Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 76 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Chain Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 13.5 ft
- Max depth
- 42 ft
- Area
- 76 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Oconto County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
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 and phosphorus, but not 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 76-acre lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 42 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Chain Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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.
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 9.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Chain Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Chain Lake in Oconto 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
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common 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 2 years of monitoring is declining. 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2022).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 76 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Chain 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 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -1 m/yr | 2 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Chain Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Wi Dnr Lakewood Rearing StationLakewood · 1.5 mi away · NPDES WI0022721
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.
Graded lakes near Chain Lake
Chain Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Oconto County
Frequently asked questions about Chain Lake
Where is Chain Lake?
- Chain Lake is a lake in Oconto 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 Oconto County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 76 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 42 feet. The lake covers 76 acres.
What fish are in Chain Lake?
- Fish species found in Chain Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Chain Lake is located in Oconto County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Chain Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common 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 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Chain Lake?
- Chain Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Chain Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Chain Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Oconto County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Chain Lake
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX10 samples · 2021–2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory