Where is Lake Samish?

Lake Samish is a lake in Whatcom County, Washington. Its water-quality measurements are published by Washington Ecology and shown on this page as reported.

How deep is Lake Samish?

Lake Samish has a maximum depth of 160 feet. The lake covers 812 acres.

Are there boat ramps on Lake Samish?

Lake Samish has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Samish. Public access is listed as yes.

Can I fish at Lake Samish?

Lake Samish 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 Washington's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.

Lake Samish

Whatcom County, Washington812 acresView map Directions

No nutrient or algae sampling on record from Washington Ecology for this lake.

Max depth

160 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

812 acres

Surface area

Shoreline

8.5 mi

Measured length

Impaired · Dioxins
160 ft max depth
Public access

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Lake Samish in Whatcom County, Washington has water-quality measurements published by Washington Ecology, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 160 ft. Surface area: 812 acres.

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Lake Samish is a 812-acre lake in Whatcom County, Washington with a maximum depth of 160 feet. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, WA Ecology. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Lake Samish is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Boat launch1 documented ramp
Deep water160 ft surveyed max depth

Swimming conditions

No reading

Not rated

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Samish is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for dioxins, mercury, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether Lake Samish is safe to swim in today is a call for the Washington State Department of Ecology and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.

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Water quality measurements for Lake Samish

These are the measurements Washington Ecology publishes for Lake Samish, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

No clarity data. TSI undefined.

Ask about Lake Samish

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Lake Details

Max depth

160 ft

Surface area

812 acres

Shoreline

8.5 mi

Public access

Yes

Listed by Washington Ecology

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Lake SamishPublic

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 Samish

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Samish in Whatcom County, Washington — 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 Samish

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Fishing Lake Samish

→ Lake Samish fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

EPA Impairment Status

Lake Samish is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2018 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

DioxinsMercuryPCBs

Designated uses not supporting: Drinking water, Fish consumption.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WA17110002000549_001_001 · Official waterbody report

Nearby Lakes in Whatcom County

Cain Lake2.4 miView →Lake Louise4.1 miView →Lake Padden4.4 miView →Lake Whatcom5.2 miView →Toad Lake9 miView →Squalicum Lake9.5 miView →

Frequently asked questions about Lake Samish

Where is Lake Samish?: Lake Samish is a lake in Whatcom County, Washington. Its water-quality measurements are published by Washington Ecology and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lake Samish?: Lake Samish in Whatcom County, Washington has water-quality measurements published by Washington Ecology, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 160 ft. Surface area: 812 acres.
Is Lake Samish safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Samish is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for dioxins, mercury, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lake Samish?: Lake Samish has a maximum depth of 160 feet. The lake covers 812 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Samish?: Lake Samish has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Samish. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Samish?: Lake Samish 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 Washington's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.