Centralia Lake is a 300-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Marion County, Illinois. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Marion County, Centralia Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2021-10-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 1.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 86.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 70.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.5 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 86.5 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 70 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 300 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Centralia Lake
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Fishing Centralia Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Centralia Lake averages about 79°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Apr (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 301 field readings (2012–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Centralia Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 6 lakes in Marion County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Centralia Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Marion County
Explore Centralia Lake across LakeGrade
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Centralia Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Centralia Dam (completed 1911), built primarily for recreation on the MARTIN BRANCH; earth-type dam, 31 ft tall and 720 ft long.
- Surface area
- 300 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,772 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,165 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6.7 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- CITY OF CENTRALIA
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL00239 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Centralia Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_ROI · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Centralia Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Raccoon School District C-1 StpCentralia · 3.1 mi away · NPDES IL0052981Recent violation
- Fosters Mobile Home Park StpSalem · 3.5 mi away · NPDES IL0053040
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2021-10-27
Monitoring stations: 3