Channel Lake
Lake County, IllinoisView mapDirections
Illinois EPA publishes the water-quality measurements for Channel Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- Public access
- Limited data
Channel Lake in Lake County, Illinois has water-quality measurements published by Illinois EPA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.5 µg/L.
Channel Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lake County, Illinois. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Channel Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch5 documented ramps
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are 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.
Whether Channel Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Channel Lake
These are the measurements Illinois EPA publishes for Channel Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Phosphorus 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 9.5 µg/L. TSI 52.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 36µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 9.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 52 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Channel Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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 58°F at the surface in October. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (57°F) to its warmest (77°F).
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
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Channel Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Channel Lake in Lake County, Illinois — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Channel Lake
Prices for Oct 23–25, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Channel Lake → · more Illinois lake trips
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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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption, Other.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_RTI · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Channel Lake
Where is Channel Lake?
- Channel Lake is a lake in Lake County, Illinois. Its water-quality measurements are published by Illinois EPA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Channel Lake?
- Channel Lake in Lake County, Illinois has water-quality measurements published by Illinois EPA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.5 µg/L.
Is Channel Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are 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 58°F at the surface in October, 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.
Can I fish at Channel Lake?
- Channel Lake has 5 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Illinois's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
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 readings
Illinois's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Other 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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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