Monee Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Will County, Illinois. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2022-10-27. 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 4.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 128 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.9 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 128 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Monee Lake
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Fishing Monee Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Monee Lake averages about 75°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Oct (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 349 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Monee Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Will County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Monee Lake holds Grade D. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BWampum LakeCook County · 15.4 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- CTurtlehead LakeCook County · 17.5 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- DMidlothian LakeCook County · 13.9 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DArrowhead LakeCook County · 18 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Will County
Explore Monee 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)
Monee Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Monee Reservoir Dam (completed 1900), built primarily for recreation on the TRIB ROCK CREEK; earth-type dam, 29 ft tall and 2,400 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 320 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 650 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF WILL COUNTY
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL00566 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Monee 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_RFH · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.05 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Monee Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Idot - I-57 Rest AreaPeotone · 0.4 mi away · NPDES IL0032051Recent violation
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)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-10-27
Monitoring stations: 3