Lake Arlington is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cook County, Illinois. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Lake Arlington ranks #17 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2022-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 4.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.5 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Arlington
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Fishing Lake Arlington
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #17 of 68 lakes in Cook County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Arlington holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Explore Lake Arlington across LakeGrade
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Arlington is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Cornell Avenue Dam (completed 1977), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the MCDONALD CREEK; earth-type dam, 9 ft tall and 100 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 0 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- VILLAGE OF WHEELING
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL55079 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.82 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 Lake Arlington under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Lake County Public Works DepartmentBuffalo Grove · 3.7 mi away · NPDES IL0022055MajorRecent violation
- Vcna Prairie Illinois - Yard 1008 DesplainesDes Plaines · 2.5 mi away · NPDES IL0068063Recent violation
- Combined Sewer OverflowsMount Prospect · 3.8 mi away · NPDES IL0052400Recent violation
- Jiffy Lube International #986Wheeling · 2.8 mi away · NPDES IL0072729
- Fox Point Mobile Home Park StpWheeling · 3.2 mi away · NPDES IL0049930
- Leider GreenhousesBuffalo Grove · 4.3 mi away · NPDES IL0067881
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-09-29
Monitoring stations: 1