North Pond is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cook County, Illinois. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Cook County, North Pond ranks #50 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2023-05-23. 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 2.5 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near North Pond
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Fishing North Pond
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #50 of 68 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Explore North Pond across LakeGrade
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
North Pond 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_QZK · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.02 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of North Pond under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- A Finkl & Sons CoChicago · 1.6 mi away · NPDES IL0035483Recent 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
Most recent sample: 2023-05-23
Monitoring stations: 1