Lake Calumet is a 0-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cook County, Illinois. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Lake Calumet ranks #66 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2023-07-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Calumet
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Calumet in Cook 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 Lake Calumet
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Fishing Lake Calumet
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -24 m/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #66 of 68 lakes in Cook County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Calumet holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Explore Lake Calumet across LakeGrade
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Calumet is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Thomas J. O'Brien Lock and Controlling Works (completed 1960), built primarily for navigation on the CALUMET RIVER; concrete-type dam, 37 ft tall and 430 ft long.
- Surface area
- 0 ac
- Normal storage
- 0 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 9,700 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 250 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Chicago District
All listed purposes: Navigation;Other;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL01013 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Calumet 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_RHO · Official waterbody report
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: 2023-07-18
Monitoring stations: 1