Lake Springfield is a 4,224-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Sangamon County, Illinois. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2024-08-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Lake Springfield water quality
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1.5 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 71.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.5 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 4,224 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake Springfield
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Fishing Lake Springfield
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -5.276 m/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Lake Springfield averages about 76°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Apr (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 72 field readings (2010–2018) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Springfield water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Sangamon County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Springfield holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
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Explore Lake Springfield across LakeGrade
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Springfield is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Spaulding Dam (completed 1933), built primarily for recreation on the SUGAR CREEK; concrete-type dam, 48 ft tall and 3,300 ft long.
- Surface area
- 4,224 ac
- Normal storage
- 53,504 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 101,205 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 265 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY WATER, LIGHT & POWER
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL00749 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Springfield under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 2 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- City Water Light And PowerSpringfield · 0.3 mi away · NPDES IL0024767MajorRecent violation
- Sangamon County Water Reclamation DistrictSpringfield · 2.8 mi away · NPDES IL0021971MajorRecent violation
- Lincoln Trails Mhp StpSpringfield · 3.4 mi away · NPDES IL0048241Recent violation
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
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: 2024-08-21
Monitoring stations: 1