Decatur Lake vs Sara Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Sara Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Decatur Lake. Both are in Illinois.
Decatur Lake and Sara Lake are both in Illinois — a same-state head-to-head where the comparison comes down to lake-specific differences in depth, watershed, and monitoring history rather than the broader state-level water-quality regime. These two sit close on their nutrient and algae readings, Decatur Lake versus Sara Lake. The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.
With readings this close, the choice between the two lakes turns on non-water-quality factors: depth, fish species, public access, distance from home. The per-lake pages below cover all of those.
Decatur Lake
Very murky, less than 1.3 ft of visibility.
Sara Lake
Very murky, less than 2.2 ft of visibility.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Decatur Lake | Sara Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 1.3 ft | 2.2 ft Better |
| Phosphorus | 103 µg/L | 59.5 µg/L Better |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 25 µg/L Better | 33.9 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | - | - |
| Surface Area | 3,335 acres | 586 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 0 | 0 |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | hypereutrophic |
A green ✓ marks the better value for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better). Surface area and trophic state carry no tick — a bigger lake is not a better lake.
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Verdict
Decatur Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Sara Lake. Water clarity: 1.3 ft vs 2.2 ft. For fishing diversity, Decatur Lake also leads with 0 species.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Decatur Lake and Sara Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Decatur Lake and Sara Lake. Both lakes are pinned on the map, so you can see which stays sit nearer the one you pick. Switch to Satellite to see how close each is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Decatur Lake and Sara Lake
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.