Woods Creek Lake
McHenry County, WisconsinEutrophic
Woods Creek Lake is a 9-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in McHenry County, IL. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in McHenry County, Woods Creek Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2022-10-05. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 45.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 45.5 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 9.3 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 5 lakes in McHenry County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Woods Creek Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BSilver LakeMcHenry County · 5.7 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
- BLily LakeMcHenry County · 11.7 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
Nearby Lakes in McHenry County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Cook County · Clarity: 9 ft
Cook County · Clarity: 8.5 ft
Williamson County · Clarity: 3.2 ft
Johnson County · Clarity: 4.5 ft
Gallatin County · Clarity: 3.9 ft
Rock Island County · Clarity: 4.2 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Woods Creek Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake In The Hills Dam 1 (completed 1926), built primarily for recreation on the WOODS CREEK; earth-type dam, 40 ft tall and 780 ft long.
- Surface area
- 9.3 ac
- Normal storage
- 598 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 969 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.4 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- VILLAGE OF LAKE IN THE HILLS
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL00568 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.51 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Woods Creek Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_RTZZ · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-10-05
Monitoring stations: 3