Skokie Lagoons Lake
Cook County, IllinoisView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #15 of 16 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Skokie Lagoons Lake in Cook County, Illinois has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 229 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 74.7 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 1.6 ft
- Typical in September
- 65°F
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 229 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 74.7 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Skokie Lagoons Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Skokie Lagoons Lake in Cook 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 Skokie Lagoons Lake are listed below.
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Skokie Lagoons Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Cook County, Illinois. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 15 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Skokie Lagoons Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois EPA, last sampled 2021-09-27. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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. Skokie Lagoons Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 229 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 74.7 µg/L. TSI 75. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 229 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 74.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 75 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Temperature
Skokie Lagoons Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 62 field readings (2011–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Skokie Lagoons Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Skokie Lagoons Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Skokie Lagoons 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_RHJ · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #15 of 16 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Skokie Lagoons Lake
Where is Skokie Lagoons Lake?
- Skokie Lagoons Lake is a lake in Cook County, Illinois. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Skokie Lagoons Lake?
- Skokie Lagoons Lake in Cook County, Illinois has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 229 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 74.7 µg/L.
Is Skokie Lagoons Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Skokie Lagoons Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Skokie Lagoons Lake?
- Skokie Lagoons Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, from 62 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Skokie Lagoons Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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
48 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- illinois epa
IL_EPA_WQX48 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- MEASURED IN FIELD
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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