Wayne County Lake Quality
Illinois, 3 lakes, average grade F (Very Poor)
Wayne County has 3 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. The county average is F — the most-stressed bracket in our rubric. Most monitored lakes here show persistent nutrient loading and algal pressure.
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 Wayne City Lake (D); the most-stressed is Sam Dale Lake (F).
Quick Answers for Wayne County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Wayne City Lake — or check the official Illinois fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Wayne County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne City Lake | D | 2.1 ft | 34.5 µg/L |
| 2 | Sam Dale Lake | F | 1.2 ft | 137 µg/L |
| 3 | Fairfield Lake | F | 1.3 ft | 114 µg/L |
Other Counties in Illinois
See how Wayne County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 15 states.
Where to stay near Wayne County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.