Chatham Lake
Chatham Lake in Jackson Parish County, Louisiana has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 57 µg/L. Surface area: 175 acres.
- Area
- 175 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Chatham Lake is a 175-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Jackson Parish County, Louisiana. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Jackson Parish County, Chatham Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2024-10-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 57 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 57 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Chatham Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Chatham Lake in Jackson Parish County, Louisiana — 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 Chatham Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 175 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Chatham Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Chatham Public Boat RampPublic
Named access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, snapped within 5 km. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Chatham Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Chatham Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Chatham Lake Dam (completed 1940), built primarily for recreation on the Edwards Branch To Castor Creek; earth-type dam, 19 ft tall and 1,780 ft long.
- Surface area
- 175 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,450 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,975 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 19 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Jackson Parish Watershed Commission
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID LA00008 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Chatham 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 LA081502_00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Jackson Parish County
Nearby Lakes in Jackson Parish County
Frequently asked questions about Chatham Lake
Where is Chatham Lake?
- Chatham Lake is a lake in Jackson Parish County, Louisiana. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Chatham Lake?
- Chatham Lake in Jackson Parish County, Louisiana has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 57 µg/L. Surface area: 175 acres.
Is Chatham Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Chatham Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Chatham Lake?
- Chatham Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Chatham Public Boat Ramp. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Chatham Lake across LakeGrade
More Louisiana Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Louisiana
Claiborne Parish County · Fair
Bienville Parish County · Fair
Natchitoches Parish County · Fair
Webster Parish County · Fair
Rapides Parish County · Fair
Rapides Parish County · Fair
Eutrophic Lakes in Louisiana
Where this data comes from
40 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.
Collected and reported by
- LDEQ/Water Planning and Assessment (Louisiana)
LADEQWPD_WQX40 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory