Centralia Lake
Marion County, WisconsinEutrophic
Centralia Lake is a 300-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Marion County, IL. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Marion County, Centralia Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2021-10-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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 |
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
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
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
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: 2021-10-27
Monitoring stations: 3