Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Iron County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Lake whitefish. Compared to the 38 other monitored lakes in Iron County, Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township ranks #18 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-13. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 20.3 ft down. Trophic State Index: 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 20.3 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township
- → Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.69 m/yr | 2 |
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 110 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #18 of 39 lakes in Iron County
Nearby Lakes in Iron County
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040301060405-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.29 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-09-13
Monitoring stations: 1