Little Chippewa Lake
Little Chippewa Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 271.42 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 24 ft
- Area
- 271 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 9
- Open water
- 251 days
Next lake in Douglas County
Why Little Chippewa Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Little Chippewa Lake, 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. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Little Chippewa Lake is a 271-acre lake in Douglas County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 24 feet (15-foot average). The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Little Chippewa Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Little Chippewa Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.3 ft. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Little Chippewa Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little 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 Little 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 →
Water Temperature
Little Chippewa Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 70°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 62 field readings (2019–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Chippewa Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 24 ft |
| Average Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 271 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 55% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Devils LakePublic
- Little Chippewa LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little 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
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-07-30 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 28.35 | 0.17 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 27.25 | 1.12 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 26.32 | 0.13 lb |
| IOD | 16.10 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 15.65 | — |
| JND | 12.52 | — |
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
Yellow Perch
From the 2019-07-30 survey
A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community was conducted on July 29, 2019 by Fisheries Lake IBI program staff. Nearshore sampling stations were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 10…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Chippewa Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little ChippewaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Chippewa (1065)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little ChippewaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little ChippewaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.021 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (9 observations).
Estimated open water season: 251 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-16 (2016) | 2002-04-14 (2002) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-14 (2002) | 2001-12-16 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2016-03-16
EPA Impairment Status
Little Chippewa Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN21-0264-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.77 km)
Graded lakes near Little Chippewa Lake
Little Chippewa Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Little Chippewa Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Chippewa Lake?
- Little Chippewa Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 271.42 acres.
Is Little Chippewa Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Little Chippewa Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Little Chippewa Lake?
- Little Chippewa Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 62 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Chippewa Lake?
- Little Chippewa Lake has a maximum depth of 24 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 271.42 acres.
What fish are in Little Chippewa Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Chippewa Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Chippewa Lake is located in Douglas County, Minnesota.
When does Little Chippewa Lake thaw?
- Little Chippewa Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 9. Ice typically forms around Dec 16. The open water season is approximately 251 days.
Are there boat ramps on Little Chippewa Lake?
- Little Chippewa Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Devils Lake, Little Chippewa Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Little 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
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Little Chippewa Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
34 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA34 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
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