Channel Lake
Lake County, IllinoisView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
↑ up from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #6 of 19 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Channel Lake in Lake County, Illinois has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Channel Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lake County, Illinois. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 5 public boat landings. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Channel Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois EPA, last sampled 2022-10-25. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Channel Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch5 documented ramps
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. Channel Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Phosphorus 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 9.5 µg/L. TSI 52. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 36 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Current Conditions
USGS snapshot Jul 6, 2026, 4:45 AM from gauge 05547000 (Channel Lake Near Antioch, IL). Station page ↗ — a live reading replaces this snapshot when the gauge responds. Missing live data is not an all-clear.
Water Temperature
Channel Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 401 field readings (2012–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Channel Lake water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Fox Chain O'LakesPublic
- Fox Chain O'LakesPublic
- Fox Chain O'LakesPublic
- Channel Lake - Carefree Boat ClubSemi-private
- Lake Marie - Your Boat ClubSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Channel Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Channel Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_RTI · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 19 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Channel Lake
Where is Channel Lake?
- Channel Lake is a lake in Lake County, Illinois. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Channel Lake?
- Channel Lake in Lake County, Illinois has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.5 µg/L.
Is Channel Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Channel Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Channel Lake?
- Channel Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 401 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2012–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
What is the water level at Channel Lake?
- The USGS snapshot on this page for Channel Lake is 4.18 ft of gage height, recorded Jul 6, 2026, 4:45 AM at gauge 05547000. Current Conditions hydrates a live NWIS reading from that same station when the gauge responds. A missed live fetch is not an all-clear.
Are there boat ramps on Channel Lake?
- Channel Lake has 5 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fox Chain O'Lakes, Fox Chain O'Lakes, Fox Chain O'Lakes, Channel Lake - Carefree Boat Club, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Channel Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Chain O'Lakes area
Where to stay at Illinois's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Illinois's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
Where this data comes from
24 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- illinois epa
IL_EPA_WQX24 samples · 2022
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory