Chippewa Lake
Mecosta County, Michigan785 acresView mapDirections
Not Rated: one monitoring station are on record, but they measured water clarity only. LakeQuality’s A–F method grades total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity; clarity is shown, not scored.
- Impaired · Mercury
- 40 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Chippewa Lake in Mecosta County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 784.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 11 ft
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 785 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Chippewa Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Chippewa Lake in Mecosta 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 Chippewa 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 Michigan’s top lakes →
Watch Chippewa Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Free interactive depth-contour map of Chippewa Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 40 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Chippewa Lake has no grade
Chippewa Lake has monitoring on record from one station, but only water clarity was measured. LakeQuality’s A–F letter uses total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity against EPA National Lakes Assessment condition classes. With none of those grading measurements on record, Chippewa Lake is Not Rated — not an F. Its 11-foot median from 88 readings collected 2016–2022 is still shown as clarity, but clarity alone cannot earn a letter.
Not Rated is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. 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.
Chippewa Lake is a 785-acre lake in Mecosta County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 21 documented fish species including Black crappie, Blackchin shiner, and Blacknose shiner. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-03. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Chippewa Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11 ft of visibility
- Fishing21 species recorded
- Deep water40 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Chippewa Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Chippewa Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. TSI 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 785 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Chippewa Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 8 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.55 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.5 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.16 µg/L/yr | 7 |
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 MI040802020104-03 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Chippewa Lake
Chippewa Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Mecosta County
Frequently asked questions about Chippewa Lake
Where is Chippewa Lake?
- Chippewa Lake is a lake in Mecosta County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — 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.
What is the water quality grade for Chippewa Lake?
- Chippewa Lake in Mecosta County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 784.8 acres.
Is Chippewa Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Chippewa Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Chippewa Lake?
- Chippewa Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 784.8 acres.
What fish are in Chippewa Lake?
- Fish species found in Chippewa Lake include Black crappie, Blackchin shiner, Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Brown bullhead, Golden shiner, Grass pickerel, Iowa darter, Johnny darter, Largemouth bass, Longnose gar, Northern logperch, Northern longear sunfish, Pugnose shiner, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Smallmouth bass, White sucker, Yellow bullhead, Yellow perch. Chippewa Lake is located in Mecosta County, Michigan.
Explore Chippewa Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Mecosta County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Lakes in Michigan
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
88 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS88 samples · 2016–2022
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