Chilson Impoundment
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Chilson Impoundment is mapped to a depth of 9 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 57 acres in Livingston County, Michigan.
Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 9 ft
- Mean depth
- 1.8 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 57 acres
- Estimated volume
- 104 acre-ft · 34M gal
- Shoreline
- 1.83 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 76% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Trophic state
- Eutrophic · satellite estimate · details
- Public access
- Boat Launch · Rec Passport
- Borders
- Brighton Recreation Area · Michigan DNR · 65% of shoreline
Additional depth details3 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–9 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 9 ft, 7 ft
100% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft. Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.
Compare with another lakeProvenance
Sources: MI DNR inland lake contours, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL), MI DNR Boat Launches.
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Map details & sources5 sources
All layers registered to one bounding box; positions in WGS 84.
Survey-derived depth contours drape over USGS 3DEP elevation, with a USDA NAIP aerial basemap and OpenStreetMap shoreline. Color shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.
- Coordinates
- 42.51321, -83.86150
- MI DNR lake ID
- L5193
- Vertical exaggeration
- 3.0× below the waterline; land at true scale
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.4 MB
Lake productivity & trophic state
Satellite estimateSatellite-estimated classification: Eutrophic. Higher nutrient levels and biological productivity, often with more algae or aquatic plant growth. Based on satellite estimates of summer chlorophyll-a (LAGOS-US LANDSAT, 2020). No lake-specific measurement is available in this dataset.
Trophic state describes how biologically productive a lake is, based on indicators such as nutrients, algae and water clarity. It is not a swimming-safety or overall water-quality rating.
What do the categories mean?
- Oligotrophic≤ 2 µg/L · lower nutrient and algae levels, often clearer water and lower biological productivity.
- Mesotrophic2–7 µg/L · moderate nutrient levels and biological productivity.
- Eutrophic · this lake7–30 µg/L · higher nutrient levels and biological productivity, often with more algae or aquatic plant growth.
- Hypereutrophic> 30 µg/L · very high nutrient levels and biological productivity, with a greater potential for heavy algae growth and low water clarity.
Bands are summer (June–August) mean chlorophyll-a, the green pigment in algae, at the EPA 2012 National Lakes Assessment thresholds. Trophic condition can change over time and by measurement method. Source: Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership Conservation Planner; satellite chlorophyll-a estimates from LAGOS-US LANDSAT.
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-23Chilson Impoundment has a heavily wooded and largely undeveloped setting, well sheltered geometry, substantial nearby higher-volume roads. No special watercraft restriction is identified in the current source.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Excellent | 29.1 of 30 | 92% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (34% forest, 57% wetland; 1% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Excellent | 23.3 of 25 | mean fetch 532 m · 48% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · short fetch in most directions |
| Watercraft controls | None identified | 7.5 of 15 | No special watercraft restriction identified in the current DNR source. Motors permitted, subject to general law. |
| Public access | Good | 12.8 of 15 | 1 site with DNR boating-facility records · 1 ramp lane · 5 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Modest | 2.9 of 15 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 20 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 13,761 vehicles/day |
Additional paddling considerations
These describe the lake but are not part of the v1 Paddling Index and do not change the number above.
- Wake sensitivity
- Low — wide enough that wakes disperse over most of the lake
- Aquatic vegetation
- High — approximately 76% mapped coverage · NAIP aerial imagery (NDVI)
- Observed motorized activity
- Unknown — No lake-level measurement of boat traffic is available. Legal permission to operate motors is not evidence of use.
- Wildlife habitat potential
- High — 34% forest and 57% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches3 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
About these fish → the Fish of Michigan guide
Fishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 3 species found here — 3 open to harvest.
These are hook-and-line size, daily limit and season rules. Gear, spearing and bow fishing, spawning closures and rod limits are set by other Fisheries Orders and are not shown here.
From FO-206.26 (eff. 2026-04-01) / FO-215.23A (eff. 2023-09-15) / FO-254.25 (eff. 2025-10-10), checked against the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations digest · verified 2026-09-15. Regulations can change — Michigan DNR rules are the controlling source; verify current regulations before fishing. Official regulations
Notable catches
Master Angler program · 1997–2025Master Angler catches recorded on this lake — too few to show a pattern, so they are listed individually.
Non-native species records
No non-native species recorded in the available dataset. This does not confirm that no non-native species are present.
Source: Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership Conservation Planner; underlying nonindigenous species records from the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database.
At the lake
community-mapped amenities · straight-line distanceBait & tackle nearby
licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distanceChilson Impoundment — common questions
How deep is Chilson Impoundment?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Chilson Impoundment is 9 ft. That is the deepest depth the historical survey map records, which may differ from the deepest point of the lake itself.
How big is Chilson Impoundment?
Chilson Impoundment covers about 57 acres in Livingston County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Chilson Impoundment?
The estimated mean depth of Chilson Impoundment is 1.8 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Chilson Impoundment?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include largemouth bass, redear sunfish, common carp. The page shows the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Chilson Impoundment?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 1 public access site on Chilson Impoundment, including Chilson Pond.
