Pistakee Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in McHenry County, Illinois. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in McHenry County, Pistakee Lake ranks #5 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 2.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 63 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.7 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 63 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Pistakee Lake
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Fishing Pistakee Lake
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 5 lakes in McHenry County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Pistakee Lake holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BLily LakeMcHenry County · 3.9 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- DNippersink LakeLake County · 2.5 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DFox LakeLake County · 3.6 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DLong LakeLake County · 4 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DLong LakeLake County · 4.4 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in McHenry County
Explore Pistakee Lake across LakeGrade
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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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
Pistakee 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_RTU · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
6 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Pistakee Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 2 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Fox Lake Nw Regional Wrf, Village OfFox Lake · 1 mi away · NPDES IL0020958MajorRecent violation
- Bostik, Inc.Ringwood · 4.3 mi away · NPDES IL0001716MajorRecent violation
- Johnsburg Stp, Village OfJohnsburg · 2.8 mi away · NPDES IL0074969Recent violation
- Huntsman International LlcRingwood · 4.4 mi away · NPDES IL0079553Recent violation
- Oak Creek Townhomes WwtfJohnsburg · 0.9 mi away · NPDES IL0075973
- Modine Manufacturing Company - MchenryRingwood · 4.3 mi away · NPDES IL0001279
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