Pistakee Lake
McHenry County, IllinoisView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #4 of 5 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Pistakee Lake in McHenry County, Illinois has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 74 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 39.4 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.7 ft
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Pistakee Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pistakee Lake in McHenry 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Pistakee Lake are listed below.
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Pistakee Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in McHenry County, Illinois. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in McHenry County, Pistakee Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois EPA, last sampled 2022-10-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Pistakee Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch4 documented ramps
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Pistakee Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pCBs, turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 74 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 39.4 µg/L. TSI 65. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 74 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 39.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Recreation & Access
- Lookout Point ParkPublic
- a marinaSemi-private
- Bald Knob PointSemi-private
- Oak Grove RoadSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Pistakee Lake
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 5 lakes in McHenry County
Nearby Lakes in McHenry County
Frequently asked questions about Pistakee Lake
Where is Pistakee Lake?
- Pistakee Lake is a lake in McHenry County, Illinois. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Pistakee Lake?
- Pistakee Lake in McHenry County, Illinois has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 74 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 39.4 µg/L.
Is Pistakee Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Pistakee Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pCBs, turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Pistakee Lake?
- Pistakee Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lookout Point Park, a marina, Bald Knob Point, Oak Grove Road. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pistakee Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Illinois's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
22 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- illinois epa
IL_EPA_WQX22 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- MEASURED IN FIELD
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory