Fox Lake
Lake County, IllinoisView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #11 of 19 in the county
- Limited data
Fox Lake in Lake County, Illinois has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 72 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.2 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 1.9 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 72 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 28.2 µg/L
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Stays near Fox Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fox 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Fox Lake are listed below.
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Fox Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lake County, Illinois. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Fox Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois EPA, last sampled 2022-10-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Fox Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Fox Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pesticides, pCBs, turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 1.9 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 72 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 28.2 µg/L. TSI 66. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 72 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 28.2 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Current Conditions
USGS snapshot Jul 6, 2026, 4:30 AM from gauge 05547500 (Fox Lake Near Lake Villa, IL). Station page ↗ — a live reading replaces this snapshot when the gauge responds. Missing live data is not an all-clear.
Recreation & Access
- a marinaSemi-private
- Bayview ParkSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Fox Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Fox 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_RTF · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 19 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Fox Lake
Where is Fox Lake?
- Fox Lake is a lake in Lake County, Illinois. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Fox Lake?
- Fox Lake in Lake County, Illinois has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 72 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.2 µg/L.
Is Fox Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Fox Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pesticides, pCBs, turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water level at Fox Lake?
- The USGS snapshot on this page for Fox Lake is 4.1 ft of gage height, recorded Jul 6, 2026, 4:30 AM at gauge 05547500. 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 Fox Lake?
- Fox Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include a marina, Bayview Park.
Explore Fox 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 grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Illinois's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
Where this data comes from
22 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_WQX22 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- MEASURED IN FIELD
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory