Tampier Lake 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 with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Tampier Lake ranks #54 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2023-04-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Tampier Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Tampier Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Tampier 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Tampier Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Tampier Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Tampier Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Illinois’s top lakes →
Fishing Tampier Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Tampier Lake averages about 79°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 81°F) and coldest in Apr (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 114 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Tampier Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #54 of 68 lakes in Cook County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Tampier Lake holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Explore Tampier Lake across LakeGrade
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Tampier Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Tampier Lake Dam (completed 1964), built primarily for recreation on the TRIB LONG RUN CREEK; gravity-type dam, 9 ft tall and 240 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 668 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 859 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL00866 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Tampier 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_RGZO · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Tampier Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- 222 South Riverside PlazaChicago · 1.4 mi away · NPDES IL0005169Recent violation
- Andrew CorporationOrland Park · 2.9 mi away · NPDES IL0004952
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: 2023-04-19
Monitoring stations: 1