Glendale Lake is a 84-acre mesotrophic lake in Pope County, Illinois. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2020. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Pope County, Glendale Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2020-11-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Glendale Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Murky, only visible to about 4.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 16 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.8 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 16 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 84 acres |
Where to stay near Glendale Lake
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Fishing Glendale Lake
Water Temperature
Glendale Lake averages about 75°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 77°F) and coldest in Nov (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 332 field readings (2010–2020) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Glendale Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Pope County
Nearby Lakes in Pope County
Explore Glendale Lake across LakeGrade
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Illinois
Mesotrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Glendale Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Glendale (completed 1938), built primarily for recreation on the TR-SUGAR; earth-type dam, 38 ft tall and 975 ft long.
- Surface area
- 84 ac
- Normal storage
- 860 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,814 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- USDA FS
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL00102 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Glendale 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_RAZO · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.93 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
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: 2020-11-02
Monitoring stations: 3