Columbia Basin Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cook County, Illinois. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Columbia Basin Lake ranks #28 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2023-05-04. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Columbia Basin Lake
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Top-rated places to stay near Columbia Basin Lake
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Fishing Columbia Basin Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #28 of 68 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Explore Columbia Basin Lake across LakeGrade
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Columbia Basin 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_QZE · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.41 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-05-04
Monitoring stations: 1