McHenry County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 5 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Only 5 lakes in McHenry County carry an active grade. The county-level summary is therefore representative of those specific lakes, not necessarily of every water body in the county. McHenry County averages to a C. The distribution behind that average matters more than the letter: a few stressed lakes versus many decent ones can produce the same average as the inverse.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Silver Lake (B) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for McHenry County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Silver Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
All Lakes in McHenry County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silver Lake | B | 7 ft | - | 11 µg/L |
| 2 | Silver Lake | B | 10 ft | - | - |
| 3 | Lily Lake | B | 3.3 ft | - | 16 µg/L |
| 4 | Woods Creek Lake | C | 3.9 ft | - | 45.5 µg/L |
| 5 | Pistakee Lake | D | 2.7 ft | - | 63 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.