Pope County Lake Quality
Illinois, 2 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Pope County has 2 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. With an average grade of B, Pope County sits comfortably above the Illinois median.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is One Horse Gap Lake (B); the most-stressed is One Horse Gap Lake (B).
Quick Answers for Pope County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for One Horse Gap Lake — or check the official Illinois fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Pope County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | One Horse Gap Lake | B | 4 ft | 17 µg/L |
| 2 | Glendale Lake | B | 4.8 ft | 16 µg/L |
Other Counties in Illinois
See how Pope County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 15 states.
Where to stay near Pope County
Top-rated places to stay near Pope County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.