Chippewa Lake
Chippewa Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 95 ft. Surface area: 1185.81 acres.
- Clarity
- 14.8 ft
- Max depth
- 95 ft
- Area
- 1,186 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 13
- Open water
- 234 days
Next lake in Douglas County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Chippewa Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 90 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Chippewa Lake is a 1,186-acre mesotrophic lake in Douglas County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 95 feet (24-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 19 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Chippewa Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Chippewa Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 14.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Chippewa Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Chippewa Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota — 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 Chippewa Lake
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 Minnesota’s top lakes →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Chippewa Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (43,652 cells/mL) on November 15, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 95 ft |
| Average Depth | 24 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,186 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 14.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 46% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Chippewa LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Chippewa Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-04 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 19.83 | 0.15 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 19.73 | 0.9 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 10.66 | — |
| Walleye | 6.92 | 1.69 lb |
| IOD | 4.64 | — |
| TPM | 4.50 | — |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Walleye
From the 2025-08-04 survey
Chippewa Lake (also commonly referred to as Big Chippewa Lake) is a 1,185 acre moderately productive basin located northeast of Brandon in Douglas County. This lake is relatively deep with a maximum depth of 95 feet. Mean depth is estimated at 24 feet. Chippewa Lake is located within the Chippewa River watershed and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Chippewa Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ChippewaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ChippewaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ChippewaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.197 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.1 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.02 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (6 observations).
Estimated open water season: 234 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2004-04-07 (2004) | 2002-04-16 (2002) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-29 (2003) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2004-04-07
EPA Impairment Status
Chippewa Lake 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 MN21-0145-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 37 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Chippewa Lake
What is the water quality grade for Chippewa Lake?
- Chippewa Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 95 ft. Surface area: 1185.81 acres.
Is Chippewa Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Chippewa Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Chippewa Lake?
- Chippewa Lake has a maximum depth of 95 feet and an average depth of 24 feet. The lake covers 1185.81 acres.
What fish are in Chippewa Lake?
- Fish species found in Chippewa Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Chippewa Lake is located in Douglas County, Minnesota.
When does Chippewa Lake thaw?
- Chippewa Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 13. Ice typically forms around Dec 3. The open water season is approximately 234 days.
Does Chippewa Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Chippewa Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (43,652 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Chippewa Lake?
- Chippewa Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Chippewa Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Chippewa Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Douglas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Alexandria Lakes area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Chippewa Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Chippewa Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
183 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA183 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate