Maple Lake is a 60-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cook County, Illinois. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Maple Lake ranks #21 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2022-03-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Maple Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 60 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Maple Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Maple Lake 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 Maple 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 Maple Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Maple Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Illinois’s top lakes →
Fishing Maple Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Maple Lake averages about 72°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 137 field readings (2013–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Maple Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #21 of 68 lakes in Cook County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Maple Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Explore Maple Lake 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)
Maple Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Maple Lake Dam (completed 1918), built primarily for recreation on the TRIB DES PLAINES RIVER; earth-type dam, 25 ft tall and 110 ft long.
- Surface area
- 60 ac
- Normal storage
- 412 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 765 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL00878 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Maple 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_RHZF · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.05 km)
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 Maple Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Flagg Creek Wrd - Mcelwain StpBurr Ridge · 3.6 mi away · NPDES IL0022586MajorRecent violation
- Combined Sewer OverflowsWestern Springs · 2.6 mi away · NPDES IL0045039Recent violation
- Ashland, LlcDublin · 1.8 mi away · NPDES IL0064408
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: 2022-03-23
Monitoring stations: 1