Kinkaid Lake is a 2,500-acre mesotrophic lake in Jackson County, Illinois. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2022-07-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Kinkaid Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 24 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 24 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 2,500 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Kinkaid Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Kinkaid Lake in Jackson 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Kinkaid Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Kinkaid Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Kinkaid Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Illinois’s top lakes →
Fishing Kinkaid Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.75 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Kinkaid Lake averages about 68°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Sep (about 70°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 489 field readings (2013–2018) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Kinkaid Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Jackson County
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Explore Kinkaid 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)
Kinkaid Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Kinkaid Lake Dam (completed 1972), built primarily for recreation on the KINKAID CREEK; earth-type dam, 96 ft tall and 980 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,500 ac
- Normal storage
- 78,500 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 153,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 62.3 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL00012 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Kinkaid 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_RNC · 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 Kinkaid Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Lake Murphysboro State Park Campground StpMurphysboro · 4.2 mi away · NPDES IL0051853Recent violation
- Lake Murphysboro State Park - Concession & Shower House StpMurphysboro · 4.5 mi away · NPDES IL0053953Recent violation
- Shawnee Sand And GravelGorham · 3.2 mi away · NPDES IL0063797
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: 2022-07-26
Monitoring stations: 4