Chief Lake
Chief Lake in Manistee County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Surface area: 116.9 acres.
- Clarity
- 20 ft
- Area
- 117 acres
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Why Chief 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 Chief 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, but not phosphorus and 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 EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Chief Lake is a 117-acre lake in Manistee County, Michigan. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Pumpkinseed.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2018-08-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Chief Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 20 ft down. Trophic State Index: 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 20 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Chief Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Chief Lake in Manistee County, Michigan — 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 Chief Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 117 acres |
The available depth estimate for Chief Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Chief Lake
Graded lakes near Chief Lake
Chief Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Manistee County
Frequently asked questions about Chief Lake
Where is Chief Lake?
- Chief Lake is a lake in Manistee County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Chief Lake?
- Chief Lake in Manistee County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Surface area: 116.9 acres.
Is Chief Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Chief 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 Chief Lake?
- The available depth estimate for Chief Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown. The lake covers 116.9 acres.
What fish are in Chief Lake?
- Fish species found in Chief Lake include Pumpkinseed. Chief Lake is located in Manistee County, Michigan.
Explore Chief Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2018. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS5 samples · 2018
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.