Skip to main content
LakeQuality
A
Cook County, Illinois

Diversey Harbor Lake

Grade AExcellent · 25.6 ft clarity

Find places to stay →
Limited DataOligotrophic

Diversey Harbor Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Cook County, Illinois. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Diversey Harbor Lake ranks #1 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2023-05-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Watch Diversey Harbor Lake water quality

Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Swimming Safety

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

Compare the safest swimming lakes near Chicago

Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent

Crystal clear, you can see 25.6 ft down. Trophic State Index: 30.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)25.6 ftA
PhosphorusNo data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)30Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Where to stay near Diversey Harbor Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Diversey Harbor Lake in Cook 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 Diversey Harbor Lake

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 to Diversey Harbor Lake?

Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Diversey Harbor Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Illinois’s top lakes →

Fishing Diversey Harbor Lake

Water Temperature

Diversey Harbor Lake averages about 67°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Sep (about 73°F) and coldest in Nov (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
65°
Jul
Aug
69°
Sep
73°
Oct
Nov
56°
Dec

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 13 field readings (20132023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Diversey Harbor Lake water temperature breakdown →

Location

Loading map…

County Ranking

Ranked #1 of 68 lakes in Cook County

Nearby Lakes in Cook County

Oligotrophic Lakes in Illinois

More records, surveys & data sources

EPA Impairment Status

Diversey Harbor Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).

Causes of impairment

MercuryPCBs

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_QZI · Official waterbody report

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area
67,956 sq mi
Surface area
14,264,591 acres
Mean depth (est.)
276.2 ft
Shoreline
1778.8 mi
Elevation
574 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Most recent sample: 2023-05-23

Monitoring stations: 1

Where to stay near Diversey Harbor Lake →