Dutchman Lake
Johnson County, IllinoisView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- a waterflea
- #2 of 2 in the county
- 31 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Dutchman Lake in Johnson County, Illinois has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 59.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 35.9 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.1 ft
- Typical in October
- 71°F
- Max depth
- ~31 ft est.
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 59.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 35.9 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Dutchman Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dutchman Lake in Johnson 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Dutchman Lake are listed below.
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Dutchman Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Johnson County, Illinois with an estimated average depth of about 31 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Johnson County, Dutchman Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois EPA, last sampled 2021-10-14. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Dutchman Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Dutchman Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 59.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 35.9 µg/L. TSI 65. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 59.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 35.9 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Temperature
Dutchman Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Apr (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 161 field readings (2016–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Dutchman Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~31 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~20 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Illinois has not published bathymetry for Dutchman Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Dutchman LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Dutchman Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
EPA Impairment Status
Dutchman 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_RAM · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Dutchman Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Buncombe Stp, Village OfBuncombe · 3.5 mi away · NPDES IL0067148Recent violation
- Illinois Department Of Natural ResourcesGoreville · 4.5 mi away · NPDES IL0051845
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Johnson County
Nearby Lakes in Johnson County
Frequently asked questions about Dutchman Lake
Where is Dutchman Lake?
- Dutchman Lake is a lake in Johnson County, Illinois. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Dutchman Lake?
- Dutchman Lake in Johnson County, Illinois has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 59.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 35.9 µg/L.
Is Dutchman Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Dutchman Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Dutchman Lake?
- Dutchman Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in October, from 161 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Dutchman Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Dutchman Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 31 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Dutchman Lake?
- Dutchman Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Dutchman Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Dutchman Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Illinois's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Other Grade F Lakes in Illinois
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Illinois
Where this data comes from
52 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- illinois epa
IL_EPA_WQX52 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- MEASURED IN FIELD
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory