Upper Chain Lake
Upper Chain Lake in Hancock County, Maine has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 14.5 ft
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Upper Chain Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Hancock County, Maine. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Hancock County, Upper Chain Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2022-07-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 14.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Upper Chain Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Upper Chain Lake in Hancock County, Maine — 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 Upper Chain Lake
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Fishing Upper Chain Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.24 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.75 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 4 lakes in Hancock County
Nearby Lakes in Hancock County
Frequently asked questions about Upper Chain Lake
What is the water quality grade for Upper Chain Lake?
- Upper Chain Lake in Hancock County, Maine has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3 µg/L.
Is Upper Chain Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Upper Chain Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore Upper Chain Lake across LakeGrade
More Maine Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Maine
Mesotrophic Lakes in Maine
Where this data comes from
28 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples28 samples · 2020–2022
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds come from the U.S. EPA National Lakes Assessment 2022 Technical Support Document (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion
Most recent sample: 2022-07-20
Monitoring stations: 1