Axehead Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Cook County, Illinois. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Axehead Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2020-10-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 11.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 10 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.9 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Axehead Lake
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Fishing Axehead Lake
Water Temperature
Axehead Lake averages about 69°F at the surface in summer, 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 →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 68 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Explore Axehead Lake across LakeGrade
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Illinois's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Illinois's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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Other Grade A Lakes in Illinois
Oligotrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2020-10-06
Monitoring stations: 2