George Lake is a 167-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Rock Island County, Illinois. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2021-10-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 4.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 22.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.2 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 22.5 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 167 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near George Lake
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Fishing George Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
George Lake averages about 62°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 63°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 625 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full George Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Rock Island County
Nearby Lakes in Rock Island County
Explore George Lake across LakeGrade
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Other Grade C Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
George Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake George Dam (completed 1962), built primarily for recreation on the BIG BRANCH CREEK; earth-type dam, 78 ft tall and 1,090 ft long.
- Surface area
- 167 ac
- Normal storage
- 4,014 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 6,355 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 7.27 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- ROCK ISLAND COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE DIST.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL00136 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
George 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_RML · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.28 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
6 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of George Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Riverview SubdivisionMuscatine · 2.3 mi away · NPDES IA0077453Recent violation
- Montpelier Sanitary District, Village OfMontpelier · 2.5 mi away · NPDES IA0073890Recent violation
- Camp Abe LincolnBlue Grass · 3.6 mi away · NPDES IA0067059Recent violation
- Ssab Iowa Inc.Muscatine · 3.8 mi away · NPDES IA0074101Recent violation
- Central Iowa Power Cooperative - Fair StationMuscatine · 2.9 mi away · NPDES IA0001562
- Snowstar Corporation Ski Lodge StpAndalusia · 4.1 mi away · NPDES IL0062839
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2021-10-19
Monitoring stations: 3