Lou Yaeger Lake is a 1,410-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Montgomery County, Illinois. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Montgomery County, Lou Yaeger Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2022-10-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 1.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 217 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 75.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.8 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 217 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 75 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1,410 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lou Yaeger Lake
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Fishing Lou Yaeger Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Lou Yaeger Lake averages about 79°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 84°F) and coldest in Oct (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 87 field readings (2012–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lou Yaeger Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Montgomery County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lou Yaeger Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Montgomery County
Explore Lou Yaeger Lake across LakeGrade
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Illinois's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Illinois's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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Hypereutrophic Lakes in Illinois
Compare Lou Yaeger Lake With Nearby Lakes
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lou Yaeger Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Lou Yaeger Dam (completed 1966), built primarily for recreation on the WEST FORK SHOAL CREEK; earth-type dam, 54 ft tall and 1,270 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,410 ac
- Normal storage
- 15,380 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 44,430 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 104 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY OF LITCHFIELD
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL00693 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lou Yaeger 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_RON · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lou Yaeger Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Litchfield StpLitchfield · 4.9 mi away · NPDES IL0020621MajorRecent violation
- Litchfield - Yeager Lake Stp, City OfLitchfield · 2.3 mi away · NPDES IL0054976Recent violation
- Litchfield-Hillsboro LandfillLitchfield · 2.8 mi away · NPDES IL0075728Recent violation
- Litchfield Wtp, City OfLitchfield · 2.6 mi away · NPDES IL0059153
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)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-10-17
Monitoring stations: 3