Axehead Lake
Cook County, IllinoisView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Taste, color, odor
- #4 of 16 in the county
- Limited data
Axehead Lake in Cook County, Illinois has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 11.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.8 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 11.9 ft
- Typical in September
- 72°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 17 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 13.8 µg/L
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Watch Axehead Lake’s letter
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Axehead Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cook County, Illinois. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2020. Compared to the 15 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Axehead Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois EPA, last sampled 2020-10-06. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Axehead Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.9 ft of visibility
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.
The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Axehead Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4C) for taste, color, odor. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.9 ft. Phosphorus 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 13.8 µg/L. TSI 48. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Axehead Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 73°F) and coldest in May (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 210 field readings (2011–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Axehead Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Axehead Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Axehead Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4C).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_RGZQ · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Axehead Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Chicago O'Hare International AirportChicago · 3.5 mi away · NPDES IL0002283Recent violation
- Illinois Tool Works-Harwood HeightsHarwood Heights · 4 mi away · NPDES IL0070971Recent violation
- Rivers CasinoDes Plaines · 0.9 mi away · NPDES IL0079677
- ComdiscoRosemont · 2.7 mi away · NPDES IL0069086
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 16 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Axehead Lake
Where is Axehead Lake?
- Axehead Lake is a lake in Cook County, Illinois. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Axehead Lake?
- Axehead Lake in Cook County, Illinois has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 11.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.8 µg/L.
Is Axehead Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Axehead Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4C) for taste, color, odor. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Axehead Lake?
- Axehead Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September, from 210 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Axehead Lake across LakeQuality
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- illinois epa
IL_EPA_WQX32 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- MEASURED IN FIELD
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)