Richland County Lake Quality
Illinois, 5 lakes, average grade D (Nutrient-rich)
Richland County holds 5 monitored lakes. With a sample that small the county-level summary describes those specific waters, not necessarily every water body in the county. 3 of those lakes carry an A–F grade. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. The county-wide average grade is D — water quality issues are persistent across most of the monitored basins. 0 lakes fall into the F bracket outright.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Olney East Fork Lake (D); the most-stressed is Olney East Fork Lake (D).
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Quick Answers for Richland County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Olney East Fork Lake — or check the official Illinois fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Richland County
5 lakes · 3 graded, 2 not rated3 graded lakes · 2 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DOlney East Fork LakeRichland | D | 3.2 ft | 37 µg/L | 29.6 µg/L | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| 2 | DVernor LakeRichland | D | 4.8 ft | 114 µg/L | 29.1 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 3 | DBorah LakeRichland | D | 2.2 ft | 153.5 µg/L | 29 µg/L | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| NREast Fork LakeRichland | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NREast Fork LakeRichland | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
NR = not rated: there is not enough recent sampling to support a letter. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.
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Other Counties in Illinois
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.