Chebacco Lake
Essex County, MassachusettsView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #3 of 7 in the county
- Limited data
Chebacco Lake in Essex County, Massachusetts has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 26.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.8 µg/L.
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 26.3 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 5.8 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Chebacco Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Chebacco Lake in Essex County, Massachusetts — 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 Chebacco Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 Massachusetts’s top lakes →
Watch Chebacco Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Chebacco Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Essex County, Massachusetts. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Essex County, Chebacco Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, MassDEP, last sampled 2022-06-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Chebacco Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for algal growth, mercury, nuisance exotic species. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 26.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.8 µg/L. TSI 50. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 26.3 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.8 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Fishing Chebacco Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.13 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.93 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Chebacco Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MA93014 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 7 lakes in Essex County
Nearby Lakes in Essex County
Frequently asked questions about Chebacco Lake
Where is Chebacco Lake?
- Chebacco Lake is a lake in Essex County, Massachusetts. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Chebacco Lake?
- Chebacco Lake in Essex County, Massachusetts has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 26.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.8 µg/L.
Is Chebacco Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Chebacco Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for algal growth, mercury, nuisance exotic species. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Chebacco Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Massachusetts's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Massachusetts's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Massachusetts Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Massachusetts
Mesotrophic Lakes in Massachusetts
Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Ipswich River Watershed Association (Volunteer)
IRWA4 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Revision 1.2, September 1997, In Vitro Determination of Chlorophyll a and Pheophytin a in Marine and Freshwater 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database