Lake Chemung
Livingston County, Michigan310 acresView mapDirections
EGLE publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Chemung. Here is what has been measured.
- Impaired · Oxygen depletion (low DO)
- 60 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake Chemung in Livingston County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 15 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 310.2 acres.
Lake Chemung is a 310-acre lake in Livingston County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 60 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Lake herring. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2018-09-16. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Lake Chemung is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water15 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Deep water60 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Chemung is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lake Chemung is safe to swim in today is a call for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Lake Chemung
These are the measurements EGLE publishes for Lake Chemung, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 15 ft down. TSI 38.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 15ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 38 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Lake Chemung
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Lake Details
Max depth
60 ft
Surface area
310 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by EGLE
Recreation & Access
- Lake ChemungPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Chemung
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Chemung in Livingston 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 Lake Chemung
Prices for Oct 16–18, 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 →
Follow Lake Chemung’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Chemung
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring (2016–2019).
Water clarity
Improving3 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+1.9 µg/L/yr4 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.1 µg/L/yr3 years
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Chemung is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040802030104-03 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Livingston County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Chemung
Where is Lake Chemung?
- Lake Chemung is a lake in Livingston County, Michigan. Its water-quality measurements are published by EGLE and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lake Chemung?
- Lake Chemung in Livingston County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 15 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 310.2 acres.
Is Lake Chemung safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Chemung is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lake Chemung?
- Lake Chemung has a maximum depth of 60 feet. The lake covers 310.2 acres.
What fish are in Lake Chemung?
- Fish species found in Lake Chemung include Lake herring. Lake Chemung is located in Livingston County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Chemung?
- Lake Chemung has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Chemung. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Chemung?
- Lake Chemung has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Michigan's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Lake Chemung across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Livingston County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its readings
Michigan's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Michigan
Other Lakes in Michigan
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
43 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2018. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS43 samples · 2016–2018
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory