Turtlehead Lake
Cook County, IllinoisView mapDirections
Illinois EPA publishes the water-quality measurements for Turtlehead Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Limited data
Turtlehead Lake in Cook County, Illinois has water-quality measurements published by Illinois EPA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24.4 µg/L.
Turtlehead Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cook County, Illinois. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 15 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Turtlehead Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois EPA, last sampled 2023-04-18. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Turtlehead Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Turtlehead Lake
These are the measurements Illinois EPA publishes for Turtlehead Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 54 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 24.4 µg/L. TSI 62.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 54µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 24.4µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 62 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Turtlehead Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Turtlehead Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (61°F) to its warmest (76°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 103 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Turtlehead Lake water temperature breakdown →
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Turtlehead Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Turtlehead 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Turtlehead Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Turtlehead Lake
Prices for Oct 23–25, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 whole trip? See where to stay at Illinois’s top lakes →
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Fishing Turtlehead Lake
Water quality readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2020–2021). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Improving2 years
Phosphorus
Improving-11 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-13.2 µg/L/yr2 years
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Turtlehead Lake
Where is Turtlehead Lake?
- Turtlehead Lake is a lake in Cook County, Illinois. Its water-quality measurements are published by Illinois EPA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Turtlehead Lake?
- Turtlehead Lake in Cook County, Illinois has water-quality measurements published by Illinois EPA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24.4 µg/L.
Is Turtlehead Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Turtlehead Lake?
- Turtlehead Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in October, from 103 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Turtlehead Lake across LakeQuality
More lakes in Illinois
Other Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
Where this data comes from
37 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- illinois epa
IL_EPA_WQX36 samples · 2021 - USGS Illinois Water Science Center
USGS-IL1 sample · 2023
Analytical methods
- Secchi disk method
- MEASURED IN FIELD
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.