Nippersink Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lake County, Illinois. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 9 public boat landings. Compared to the 15 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Nippersink Lake ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2022-10-26. 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
Very murky, less than 1.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 44.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 44.5 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Nippersink Lake
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Fishing Nippersink Lake
Recreation & Access
Current Conditions
Latest reading Jul 6, 2026, 5:00 AM from USGS gauge 05548000. See live data ↗ — readings update every 15–60 minutes; this page refreshes on each build.
Water Temperature
Nippersink Lake averages about 77°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Oct (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 181 field readings (2012–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Nippersink Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 16 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Explore Nippersink Lake across LakeGrade
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Chain O'Lakes area
Where to stay at Illinois's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Illinois's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Nippersink Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_RTUA · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Nippersink Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Fox Lake-Tall Oaks Stp, Village OfFox Lake · 1.3 mi away · NPDES IL0045144Recent violation
- Spring Grove StpSpring Grove · 3.8 mi away · NPDES IL0074985Recent violation
- Scot Forge CompanySpring Grove · 4.3 mi away · NPDES IL0077909Recent violation
- Spring Grove Holdings, LlcSpring Grove · 4.5 mi away · NPDES IL0059145Recent 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)
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: 2022-10-26
Monitoring stations: 2