Where is Lake Murphysboro?

Lake Murphysboro is a lake in Jackson County, Illinois. Its water-quality measurements are published by Illinois EPA and shown on this page as reported.

How deep is Lake Murphysboro?

Lake Murphysboro has a maximum depth of 32 feet and an average depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 137 acres.

Are there boat ramps on Lake Murphysboro?

Lake Murphysboro has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Murphysboro. Public access is listed as yes.

Can I fish at Lake Murphysboro?

Lake Murphysboro has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Illinois's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.

Lake Murphysboro

Jackson County, Illinois137 acresView map Directions

No nutrient or algae sampling on record from Illinois EPA for this lake.

Max depth

32 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

137 acres

Surface area

Shoreline

5.8 mi

Measured length

Impaired · Mercury
32 ft max depth
Public access

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Lake Murphysboro in Jackson County, Illinois has water-quality measurements published by Illinois EPA, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 137 acres.

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Lake Murphysboro is a 137-acre lake in Jackson County, Illinois with a maximum depth of 32 feet (14-foot average). Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois EPA. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Lake Murphysboro is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Boat launch1 documented ramp
Deep water32 ft surveyed max depth

Swimming conditions

No reading

Not rated

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Murphysboro is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether Lake Murphysboro is safe to swim in today is a call for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.

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Water quality measurements for Lake Murphysboro

These are the measurements Illinois EPA publishes for Lake Murphysboro, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

No clarity data. TSI undefined.

Ask about Lake Murphysboro

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Lake Details

Max depth

32 ft

Average depth

14 ft

Surface area

137 acres

Shoreline

5.8 mi

Public access

Yes

Listed by Illinois EPA

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Lake MurphysboroPublic

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

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Stays near Lake Murphysboro

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Murphysboro in Jackson County, Illinois — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.

Top-rated places to stay near Lake Murphysboro

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Fishing Lake Murphysboro

→ Lake Murphysboro fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

EPA Impairment Status

Lake Murphysboro is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

MercuryNutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption, Other.

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_RND · Official waterbody report

Nearby Lakes in Jackson County

Kinkaid LakeEutrophic4.3 miView →Chautauqua Lake5.9 miView →Campus Lake9.9 miView →Cedar Lake11.1 miView →Carbondale Reservoir10.1 miView →Elkville Reservoir10.6 miView →

Frequently asked questions about Lake Murphysboro

Where is Lake Murphysboro?: Lake Murphysboro is a lake in Jackson County, Illinois. Its water-quality measurements are published by Illinois EPA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lake Murphysboro?: Lake Murphysboro in Jackson County, Illinois has water-quality measurements published by Illinois EPA, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 137 acres.
Is Lake Murphysboro safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Murphysboro is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lake Murphysboro?: Lake Murphysboro has a maximum depth of 32 feet and an average depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 137 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Murphysboro?: Lake Murphysboro has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Murphysboro. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Murphysboro?: Lake Murphysboro has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Illinois's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.