Calumet Lake is a 0-acre mesotrophic lake in Cook County, Illinois. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Calumet Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2021-10-05. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Calumet Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Murky, only visible to about 4.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 10.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.3 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 10.5 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Calumet Lake
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Fishing Calumet Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -24 m/yr | 2 |
Water Temperature
Calumet Lake averages about 75°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 78 field readings (2014–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 68 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Explore Calumet Lake across LakeGrade
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Illinois
Mesotrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Calumet Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Thomas J. O'Brien Lock and Controlling Works (completed 1960), built primarily for navigation on the CALUMET RIVER; concrete-type dam, 37 ft tall and 430 ft long.
- Surface area
- 0 ac
- Normal storage
- 0 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 9,700 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 250 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Chicago District
All listed purposes: Navigation;Other;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL01013 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Calumet Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_RHO · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Calumet Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- The Sherwin-Williams CompanyChicago · 0.9 mi away · NPDES IL0079600
- 10 South Riverside PlazaChicago · 3.6 mi away · NPDES IL0002852
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)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2021-10-05
Monitoring stations: 3