Chain Lakes
Iosco County, Michigan85 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Oligotrophic
- #4 of 5 in the county
Chain Lakes in Iosco County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.4 µg/L. Surface area: 84.6 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.5 ft
- Area
- 85 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Stays near Chain Lakes
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Chain Lakes is a 85-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Iosco County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Iosco County, Chain Lakes ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Chain Lakes is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12.5 ft of visibility
- Camping1 public campground nearby
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.5 ft. Phosphorus 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.4 µg/L. TSI 37. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 85 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Chain Lakes, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Chain Lakes
- South Branch Horse Campground4.3 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Chain Lakes
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.158 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.3 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.03 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 5 lakes in Iosco County
Nearby Lakes in Iosco County
Frequently asked questions about Chain Lakes
Where is Chain Lakes?
- Chain Lakes is a lake in Iosco County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Chain Lakes?
- Chain Lakes in Iosco County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.4 µg/L. Surface area: 84.6 acres.
Is Chain Lakes safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there campgrounds on Chain Lakes?
- Chain Lakes has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including South Branch Horse Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Chain Lakes across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Iosco County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
119 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS119 samples · 2016–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles