Hastings Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lake County, Illinois. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 15 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Hastings Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2021-07-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Hastings Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 3.4 ft. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.4 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Hastings Lake
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Fishing Hastings Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -16 m/yr | 2 |
Water Temperature
Hastings Lake averages about 72°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Oct (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 133 field readings (2012–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hastings Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 16 lakes in Lake County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Hastings Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Explore Hastings Lake across LakeGrade
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
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Hastings Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Linden Dam (completed 1955), built primarily for recreation on the TRIB HASTINGS LAKE; earth-type dam, 10 ft tall and 600 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 39 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 169 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MORTON ENGEL
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL00646 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.83 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Hastings 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_RGZB · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Hastings Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 2 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Lindenhurst Sd StpLindenhurst · 0.5 mi away · NPDES IL0020796MajorRecent violation
- Lcdpw - Mill Creek WrfOld Mill Creek · 4.4 mi away · NPDES IL0071366MajorRecent violation
- Illinois Cattle Feeders, Inc.Lake Villa · 2.3 mi away · NPDES IL0035947
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
Most recent sample: 2021-07-26
Monitoring stations: 1