Chippewa Lake Northeast Basin; Chippewa Township is a mesotrophic lake in Mecosta County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Mecosta County, Chippewa Lake Northeast Basin; Chippewa Township ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Chippewa Lake Northeast Basin; Chippewa Township water quality
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 12.8 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 3.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.8 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.3 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Chippewa Lake Northeast Basin; Chippewa Township
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Fishing Chippewa Lake Northeast Basin; Chippewa Township
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.27 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.85 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Chippewa Lake Northeast Basin; Chippewa Township averages about 67°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 68°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 790 field readings (2015–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Chippewa Lake Northeast Basin; Chippewa Township water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 12 lakes in Mecosta County
Nearby Lakes in Mecosta County
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Osceola County · Clarity: 11.5 ft
Clare County · Clarity: 15 ft
Clare County · Clarity: 15 ft
Osceola County · Clarity: 15 ft
Osceola County · Clarity: 15 ft
Isabella County · Clarity: 10.5 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Chippewa Lake Northeast Basin; Chippewa 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 MI040802020104-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.74 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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2023-09-15
Monitoring stations: 1