Doughnut Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cook County, Illinois. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Doughnut Lake ranks #24 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2022-09-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Doughnut Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Doughnut Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Doughnut 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 Doughnut 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 Doughnut Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Doughnut Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Illinois’s top lakes →
Fishing Doughnut Lake
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #24 of 68 lakes in Cook County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Doughnut Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Explore Doughnut Lake across LakeGrade
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Doughnut Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Upper Salt Creek Structure 4 Dam (completed 1987), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the SALT CREEK; earth-type dam, 14 ft tall and 3,000 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 200 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 775 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL50054 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.27 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Doughnut Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Palatine Gas Station StpPalatine · 3.6 mi away · NPDES IL0080200Recent violation
- Alden Long Grove Rehabilitation Center StpLong Grove · 4.3 mi away · NPDES IL0051934Recent violation
- Arlington Internatl RacecourseArlington Heights · 0.5 mi away · NPDES IL0063487
- Yard 1035 Rolling MeadowsRolling Meadows · 0.7 mi away · NPDES IL0066427
- Camp Reinberg StpPalatine · 3.5 mi away · NPDES IL0048542
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-09-27
Monitoring stations: 1